Open Line Column by Bobby Ricohermoso
Open Line

Nations must work together to save planet Earth

Nov 7, 2021, 9:00 AM
Bobby Ricohermoso

Bobby Ricohermoso

Editor

ONE of the most welcome developments in the ongoing 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, was the vow of global leaders for a clean energy transition and hasten the worldwide move away from coal.

This, after nearly 50 countries expressed varying degrees of commitment to limit their support and dependence on coal power generation, while scaling up the use for clean energy.

Philippines too

In fact, the Philippines is among those countries that vowed to limit or if possible totally abandon the use of coal in harnessing power.

Also, another encouraging development is that more than 20 countries pledged to halt public financing for fossil fuels by the end of 2022.

We just hope that those global leaders who made these commitments really meant to fulfill them and not reduce the same to mere promises.

Promise and commitment

Although there is a very slight difference between promise and commitment, Filipinos tend to relegate the former to a lower degree because of the running joke, ‘pinangakuan ka na nga, gusto mo tuparin pa’.

The truth however, is that a promise is an assurance or declaration of doing something.

Actually, a promise is enough to hold on to if done by honorable men but as they say, promises are made to be broken.

Life or death?

Commitment on the other hand is a declaration for which one is dedicated in ensuring that a prior vow is realized.

The key word in that definition therefore, is dedicated.

That one word, however, could spell a world of difference (no pun intended) for the entire humanity between living in a cleaner, greener, safer and healthier Earth, and reducing this planet into a state of chaos, filth, destruction and ultimately death.

In short, that one word could ultimately make a difference between life and death for this planet and its people.

We are just hopeful that those leaders would be dedicated enough to fulfill their commitments.

Good indicators

Indeed, for what they are worth, these commitments are what the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development has described as welcome indicators that global leaders are now hearing the deafening calls of the world communities, for higher climate ambitions.

Obviously, there is growing recognition of the need to consign coal to history while advancing clean energy.

It is also worth noting that public finance is being steered away from the reach of fossil fuels and towards the correct direction of a more ambitious energy transition.

Caution

But the CEED was quick to caution the public especially environmentalists from celebrating after noticing some loopholes on the ‘Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition’.

The watchdog noted that the Statement still provides a lifeline to forms of support for fossil fuels, including through indirect financing.

Hence, the group wants clarity on the portion that says “limited and clearly defined circumstances” that will merit exceptions.

It also noted the “Global Coal to Clean Energy Statement”, dilutes the 2030 and 2040 deadlines it demands of signatories from major economies and the rest of the world, respectively, to phase out coal, by giving them the option to do so “as soon as possible thereafter.”

Key absences

Also, the notable absence of key nations who ought to be among top signatories in the pledge against coal significantly hurts the ability to assure its compliance.

The United States of America, China, India, and Australia, are among the biggest consumers of coal in the world today, are conspicuously absent in the coal statement.

Challenges

Certainly, there are still challenges and lots of works ahead for countries like the Philippines that are especially vulnerable to climate change and global warming, brought by the continued use of coal and fossil fuels.

They must therefore continue to demand and challenge wealthy nations like US and China who are among the heaviest users of coal and fossil fuels to divorce from them and instead devote their resources to utilizing clean and renewable sources of energy.

The imprimatur of these big nations are imperative if we are to prevent an offshoot from the 1.5°C threshold by the end of this century.

With one week left, the climate negotiations at COP 26 need to produce more pledges that are designed to save planet Earth from coal, fossil fuels and other destructive sources of energy.

And by the way, they need to turn their commitments into concrete actions!


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