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New energy in Asean

By Amado S. Tolentino, JR. According to data from the BOI, renewable energy plants (geothermal, hydro, wind,
November 25, 2017 biomass and solar) accounted for 7038 MW of installed capacity in the country as of
AMADO S. TOLENTINO, JR. June this year, about a third of the national capacity of 21,621 MW.

LIKE many countries around the world, the members of the Association of Since the ongoing infrastructure program involves construction and modernization
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have realized that fossil fuels are outdated. They of airports, and the laying out of more roads, railroads and transport networks all
cause many problems, with serious impacts on economics, global politics and the over the country, demand for power continues to go up.
environment. Indeed, new approaches need to be taken and the technologies for
doing so are well understood and available. The Philippine private sector is active too in renewable energy projects. A
progressive Filipino businessman is into an 800 MW hydropower plant project in
Asean energy business forum Pangil, Laguna. At one time, the solar farm built by Gregorio Araneta Inc. with
Asean is on the right track judging from the recent 2017 Asean Energy Business partner Soleq, one of Southeast Asia’s largest solar independent producers, was No.
Forum and the Powertrends international exhibition on directions for energy, 1 in the Asean region. SM Supermalls, on the other hand, will install electric
power and electricity annually hosted by our energy department. Both activities charging stations for electric vehicles with the first outlets in some malls to go
were held in conjunction with Asean@50 with the objective of strengthening public- online by February 2018.
private partnership that could enhance the region’s energy sector towards common
target achievements. RE infrastructure vis-à-vis migratory species and their habitats
The race is on. Which Asean country could be the first to be completely powered by
Renewable energy (RE) technologies were tackled by Asean experts with detailed renewable energy? In the past three years, the share of renewable energy in the
experiences and best practices to the extent of, among others, the development Asean power mix has already risen to an appreciable degree due mainly to the fast-
and commercial maturity of battery storage systems as “coupling technology” to paced solar and wind power use. A target of 100 percent is ambitious but the
variable renewable energy generations. governments are determined to achieve at least 50 percent sometime after three
decades or so. In fact, the Asean landscape is ever changing with some inland areas
Surprising is the availability of Asean member state companies with flagship abloom with solar panels and wind turbines in strong windswept coastal zones.
projects on power generation, transmission and distribution. Services offered range
from solar streetlights to solar pumping installation for household water system and Be that as it may, the requirement of numerous pylons and cables to transmit
irrigation system to off-grid PV solar systems for areas with no access to a stable energy from renewable sources should be approached with caution because of
power source. detrimental effects on wildlife habitats and migration routes of bird species. One
solution in use in Spain is the “shut-off on demand” technique requiring turbines to
In short, from connection to grid areas, the lack of access to energy in off-grid areas be deactivated during the most sensitive time for wildlife, such as the migration
is now possible in the region. In the latter instance, offer is for both hybrid and off- season or during periods with low wind speeds. It was also revealed that as the
grid systems designed with battery inverters and an assortment of storage types all turbines are also at their least productive during such times, the amount of
designed to match the needs of the end user. Of all renewable sources available, electricity lost is insignificant.
solar is the most attractive alternative due to the abundance of sunlight in
Southeast Asia. Indeed, designing the location, route and direction of power lines based on national
zoning maps or land use codes avoiding, where possible, waterbird habitats,
Philippine RE projects protected areas (usually wetlands of importance to migratory birds, e.g. tidal flats,
In the Philippines alone, RE projects worth a total of P35.4 billion, expected to help marshes, etc.) and other critical areas is now a paramount concern in the
address the power demands of the government’s “Build Build Build” program, have management of migratory species and their habitats.
been approved by the Board of Investments (BOI). Some of the projects are the
Currimao-Talisay (Camarines Norte) project and the Talim (Rizal)-Calatagan And what is the significance of renewable energy infrastructure vis-à-vis migratory
(Batangas) projects which involve wind power and the San Jose City (Nueva Ecija) species? Expanding infrastructure threatens birds and their habitats. Migratory
power plant that will use rice husk, a feedstock. species play a major role in the conservation of resources. They act as pollinators
and seed dispensers, helping safeguard biodiversity which benefits food security for Seeking fresh water in times of climate change crisis
people. They regulate the balance of ecosystems by hunting their prey along their By Amado S. Tolentino, JR.
migration routes. They are also a source of revenue for many communities. Yet, April 29, 2016
fatal collision of birds with electricity power lines is most common. The magnitude
of bird-power grid conflict is still poorly understood in many countries, including
those in the East Asia-Australasia Flyway. “Water is a far more pressing problem than climate
change. Even if climate wouldn’t change, we have
Due to its location in the Pacific and by the South China Sea, Asean countries, a water problem and this water problem is much
except for landlocked Laos, have excellent conditions for solar and wind power more urgent…..”
generation. With an estimated 350 days of sunshine and varying year-round wind Peter Brabeck
speeds which, if effectively harnessed, could very well provide the needed energy, it
is safe to conclude that the target could be reached, taking into account AT the dawn of the 21st century, it was touted that 2001 marks the first year of the
environmental considerations. century of water. The idea, however, was overtaken by dramatic changes in climate
throughout the world that many thought climate is the biggest problem and
Global alliance to phase out coal nothing else matters. Thus, in the meantime, the looming global water shortage got
It should also be mentioned that at the UN climate change conference 2017 in Bonn far less attention than global warming.
(Germany), an alliance of 27 countries and states pledged to phase out coal-fired
electricity by 2030 and end all domestic and international investment in coal in According to the United Nations, one reason water receives less attention is that
favor of renewable energy use. Called “Powering Past Coal Alliance,” it aims at unlike global warming, there is no such thing as a global water crisis. Instead, there
accelerating clean growth and achieving rapid phase-out of traditional coal power. are a series of regional predicaments in a world where the distribution of water is
so lopsided that 60 percent of it is found in just nine countries including Brazil, the
Among the initial members are Austria, Costa Rica, France, New Zealand, United US and Canada.
Kingdom, Finland, Mexico, El Salvador as well as five Canadian provinces and the US
states of Washington and Oregon. The alliance also brings together a wide range of As a chemical compound, nothing could be simpler than water. Two atoms of
businesses and civil society organizations that have united for climate protection. It hydrogen joined to one of oxygen equals water. And, there is no shortage of water
intends to expand to more than 50 members by the next UN climate conference in on planet Earth, which is covered by water but more than 97 percent is salty. The
Poland in 2018. shortage is of fresh water to grow crops, drinking and sanitation water for
households and to cool power plants.
According to the International Energy Agency, coal-fired power plants produce In the past, military conflict over water rights was a grave national security issue
almost 40 percent of global electricity, making carbon pollution from coal a leading between some countries: Ethiopia and Egypt over the Nile; Botswana and Namibia
contributor to climate change. All burning of coal causes severe respiratory disease over the Okavango; Israel, Palestine and Jordan over the Jordan River, to mention a
and has many other damaging health effects, in addition to being a driver of climate few.
change.
Water from rivers in those countries cross political boundaries with the
With all renewable plants—hydro, geothermal, biomass, solar and wind around— concomitant boundary issue. Be that as it may, the situation created a natural
would wave power or underwater current energy not be far behind in the Asean? interdependence between countries in sharing the water resource, drawing people
to work together on the water availability aspect even when countries were
officially at war.

Perhaps, “water wars” were averted at that time due to the changing perception of
the concept of permanent sovereignty over natural resources in favor of functional
sovereignty or equitable utilization of transboundary shared resources. But in the
light of the recent changed political and security environment, could peaceful
negotiation over water issues still hold on for a much longer time?
consumption. Farmers switched to drought-resistant crops such as beans or raising
Figure out the following: (i) China’s damming the source of water of the Mekong livestock. Others resorted to raising poultry or farming shallow-water fish in
River has sparked serious concern among countries downstream namely Myanmar, baskets. Many rice farmers have also joined government-sponsored employment
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam; (ii) India, China and Pakistan see rising schemes such as working on irrigation canal dredging projects, which generate
tensions over shared water resources to boost production to keep up with their more than 40,000 jobs nationwide.
huge and expanding populations; (iii) A growing sense of alarm in Central Asia over
the prospect that poor but glacier-heavy nations (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) may one With the recent formal signing at the UN Headquarters in New York by 171
day restrict the flow of water to their parched but oil-rich neighbors (Uzbekistan, countries of the Paris Agreement on reduction of greenhouse gas emission, water
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan); (iv) Ultimate peace between Pakistan and India may scarcity has “come of age” as a forefront issue. As countries actively pursue major
hinge as much on water as on nuclear weapons for the two countries must share actions like a shift to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, hydropower,
the glacier-dependent Indus. etc.) to stop the devastating impacts of climate change, it is now the time for action
to set the pathway that will lead to a far-reaching effort to meet the challenges
The limited supply of freshwater must meet the needs of a human population that posed by the most precious but finite resource on Earth – fresh water.
has tripled in the last century and continues to grow at almost 80 million every year.
Right now, there is a torrent of water-related news concerning the dry spell brought Ambassador Amado Tolentino, Jr. continues with his engagement as a member of
about by the drought effect of El Niño, the declaration of state of calamity in the Asociacion Internacional de Derecho de Aguas (Rome).
specified areas due to lack of adequate water supply and a decline in agricultural
production on account of scarcity of water for agriculture.

Based on numerous studies, including those done by the Japan International


Cooperation Agency (JICA) and confirmed by a UNICEF-WHO report, 8.4 million
Filipinos have no access to clean drinking water. The major reason for freshwater Looming water wars?
scarcity in the Philippines is pollution from industries, households, tourism sites and By Amado S. Tolentino, JR.
agricultural areas. Industries use a wide range of chemicals, many of which are May 11, 2019
highly toxic and find their way to natural water systems. Wastewater from AMADO S. TOLENTINO, JR.
households follow the same route to natural water channels like run-offs of
agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. WATER wars seem to be inevitable as a consequence of climate change which
brings about major global challenges — loss of water resources due to
A UNDP report further mentioned that the Metro Manila main underground aquifer deforestation, expansion of agriculture and urban growth; warmer temperature
is so over pumped that groundwater levels have considerably dropped to critical causing desertification and inadequate food supply; drought sparked conflicts over
levels. This has induced saline water to encroach into coastal zones and threaten water supply as downriver inhabitants safeguard their share. All these could
Marikina Valley and places along the Laguna Lake region. Once again, water undermine a country’s capacity to carry out its function of providing security to its
rationing plans are on board in Metro manila. people.

Even the Rainwater Collection Facilities and Spring Water Protection Law (1989), The security implications of the earth’s environmental degradation are forcing
which mandates construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of governments and militaries to review their long- term defense strategies. Defense
springs, rehabilitation of existing water wells in all barangays in the Philippines, planning is increasingly being shaped by climate and resource considerations.
remains in the books, largely unimplemented.
Security implications of severe climate change include, but is not limited to: a) huge
The solution to water scarcity is largely in the hands of governments because it movements of people from uninhabitable areas because of nonavailability of water;
requires policies such as better and effective regulation of groundwater, irrigation b) conflicts over basic resources like water and food exacerbating water scarcity and
and more intelligent use of wastewater. Among Asean countries, Thailand adopted increase in food costs and food shortage; c) intermittent energy production and
a policy to minimize use of water by not growing off-season rice as a response to disruption of transportation of goods of varying lengths and magnitudes; and d)
the gravity of the drought situation. Water has to be conserved for household
intensified heat waves presenting challenges to outdoor military training and large areas of Jordan’s eastern desert would host a 200-sq km solar energy plant
personnel efficiency. which would provide power for desalination (and for Jordan) in exchange for water
from the coast. The rapid increase in the population of Jordan, by the way, caused
There is, therefore, a need to strengthen military capabilities in anticipation of by refugees from Syria and Iraq is aggravating the water shortage and leading to
impending climate wars — resource war (oil and minerals); migratory wars (climate further political instability.
refugees and asylum seekers out of mass migration to avoid terrorist attacks and
armed conflict); and water wars (diminished water for agriculture and water supply Although Israel already supplies most of the Palestinian Authority’s electricity, and
shortage for domestic use). pipes water from the Sea of Galilee to Jordan, many Arab countries have signed up
to boycotts that prohibit them from connecting Israel to their power grids. But aside
In the past, military conflict over water rights was a grave national security issue from political obstacles, the main drawback to making fresh water from the sea is
between and among countries: Ethiopia and Egypt over the Nile; Botswana and that it takes a lot of energy aside from the fact that similar grand designs in the past
Namibia over the Okavango; Israel, Palestine and Jordan over the Jordan River, to foundered on the rocks of reality. Furthermore, a tense political situation recently
name a few. resurfaced in the region.

Water from rivers in those countries cross political boundaries with the North Africa. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia are the three main beneficiaries of the
concomitant boundary issue. Be that as it may, the situation created a natural water that flows through the Nile River. The river provides nearly all of Egypt’s
interdependence between countries in sharing the water resource, drawing the water. It claims two/thirds of the flow based on a treaty it signed with Sudan in
people to work together on the water availability aspect even when the countries 1959. But the rate is no longer enough to satisfy Egypt’s growing population and
were officially at war. sustain the water needs of its agricultural crops.

Perhaps, water wars were averted that time due to the changing perception of the Egypt wanted to stop the largest hydroelectric project in Africa under construction
concept of permanent sovereignty over natural resources in favor of functional by Ethiopia despite the fact it signed a declaration along with Sudan and Ethiopia
sovereignty, or equitable utilization of transboundary shared resources. But in light that tacitly consents to the dam construction as long as there is no “significant
of the recent changed political and security environment, could peaceful harm” to downstream countries. To date, “significant harm” remains undefined.
negotiation over water issues still hold on for a much longer time?
Mistrust hangs over the dam’s ultimate use. Ethiopia insists it will only produce
Asia. Figure out the following: (a) China’s damming the source of water of the power but Egypt fears it will be used for agriculture, cutting downstream supply.
Mekong River has sparked serious concern among Southeast Asian countries Sudan on the other hand, will receive some power produced by the dam. By
downstream namely, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam; (b) stabilizing the Nile’s flow, it will also allow Sudan to prevent flooding, conserve
India, China and Pakistan see rising tensions over shared water resources to boost more water and increase agricultural output.
production to keep up with their huge and expanding populations; (c) A growing
sense of alarm over the prospect that poor but glacier-heavy nations in Central Asia Referred to as Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam, it is the latest test of the three
(Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) may one day restrict the flow of water to their parched but countries’ willingness to share water. Difficulties include Ethiopia’s plan to build
oil-rich neighbors (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan); (d) In South Asia, other dams on the river which could further affect downstream supply. Sudan has
ultimate peace between Pakistan and India may hinge as much on water as on promised investors an abundance of water for irrigation. Egypt feels it is now at the
nuclear weapons for the two countries must share the glacier-dependent Indus. mercy of its neighbors vis-à-vis the water from the Nile.

In addition, environmental proposals/developments with political undertones at Supposed to be completed in 2017, the completion of the mostly self-funded $4.8-
this point in time are worth noting. billion dam will be delayed to 2022. In the meantime, the potential impacts of
Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam have been the source of regional controversy and
Middle East. In 2016, EcoPeace, a joint Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian NGO discord.
presented an ambitious proposal to develop renewable energy using solar power in
the region. The proposal is a $30 billion plan to build a number of desalination
plants on the Mediterranean shore of Israel and the Gaza Strip. At the same time,
Pope Francis vis-à-vis earth stewards Be that as it may, the encyclical emphasizes that man is part of God’s creation and
By Amado S. Tolentino, JR. therefore entitled to protection.
August 8, 2015
Pope Francis has won much admiration for his humility and reputation as a truth-
“The earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to the earth …. This we know: teller who speaks simply and plainly. He is the leader of a world-wide institution
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the with 1.2 billion members with no political interests to protect and no reelection
web of life: he is merely a strand in it …..” campaign to wage. Indeed, he is well positioned to win a debate on the issue of how
Chief Seattle to steward the Earth.

AT long last, the Vatican released to the expectant world Pope Francis’ environment But will the encyclical make an impact on Catholics worldwide who did not pay
encyclical “Laudato Si.” Encyclicals are considered the most authoritative document attention to the environmental issues before?
a Pope can issue. This one is about the dire effects of environmental degradation
especially on the poor and urges the world to take action on moral grounds. No religion in the world could be identified as against protection of the
environment from the effects of climate change. Buddhism is known to respect and
The encyclical could at best be described as the Pope’s lament and call to action for hold sacred anything that has life – trees, species of fauna, etc. “In Islam, man is Al
the earth’s protection and sustainability. It links environmental degradation with Khalifa (The Steward). His role on earth is to act as God’s steward, and trustee of
economic and social justice aiming to connect environment very tightly to the the bounties of the earth.” Even faith-based organizations like the Evangelicals and
Church’s social teaching to give preferential treatment to the poor. Baptist faiths have been exceptional leaders working on climate change.

No one has written an encyclical focused on the environment before. For analysts, Hopefully, Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si” would lead to a united inter-faith response to
this could be traced to the Pope’s Jesuit formation which reinforces the idea “that make a case for climate change and urge everyone to take action on moral grounds.
we are stewards of God’s creation and that God is somehow present in all of After all, we are the Earth’s Stewards.
creation.” Therefore, we have a duty to look after the earth responsibly. In that
regard, Pope Francis should be credited for having added the religious/moral *Ambassador Amado Tolentino lectures at San Beda Alabang School of Law and
dimension to an otherwise purely scientific, political, and economic issue and continues to write about environmental issues.
concern.

Before the launch of “Laudato Si,” the Pope addressed a local group of grassroots
organizers in Rome saying that an economic system centered only on money would
“….plunder nature to sustain frenetic levels of consumption. Climate change, the
loss of biodiversity, deforestation are already showing their devastating effects…
from which you, the humble, suffer the most.”

Critics of the Pope’s message against the unbridled pursuit of profits by


businessmen, however, say that the free market, far from being the source of
inequality is the great engine that will pull the world’s poor out of misery.

While the Pope’s devotion to nature has a theological basis it also has an ethical
component based on who, in particular, is responsible for environmental problems.
But more than the issue of who is responsible is the dispute over the idea that
population control and contraception are the solutions to the planet’s limited
resources rather than curve the consumerist, wasteful behavior of the rich and the
privileged.

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