AMID THE SCORCHING political debates in the country today, which can either burn or renew the republic, there are other serious concerns that can leave as deep a scar. Environmental is one.
ENERGY CONTROVERSY
October last year, the Philippine Department of Energy released a comprehensive framework for the integration of Nuclear Energy (NE) into the country’s power generation mix with Secretary Sharon Garin earlier unveiling its roadmap for 2023-2050 in Vienna, Austria. Shortly after, the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) ideacropped up. Both revved the environment movement to take stands in Congress, streets, media, fora, and position papers. At the surface, these two ideas areargued as harmful to the environment and the people’s health mainly due to their toxic radioactive and gas emissions.
In the November edition of Kamayan para saKalikasan, Victoria Segovia, the president of Green Convergence, the organizer of the monthly forum, said these are in contrast to the stronger calls for the phase-out of fossil fuels in the recent Conference of Parties (COP 30) held in Brazil. She noted that with our national leaders now promoting the use of nuclear and waste-to-energy technologies as alternatives, she wondered about this step towards sustainable development.
‘Over the years, civil society groups have consistently opposed nuclear as a power source. “Nuclear power is not the solution to the climate crisis and to our power needs” … Green Convergence sums up in its position paper previously signed by some member networks, organizations, and individuals of the coalition.’
NUCLEAR ENERGY
Over the years, civil society groups have consistently opposed nuclear as a power source. “Nuclear power is not the solution to the climate crisis and to our power needs … it is not safe, not cheap, not sustainable, is expensive, will saddle our country with radioactive waste,” Green Convergence sums up in its position paper previously signed by some member networks, organizations, and individuals of the coalition.
Gerry Arances, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, said in the same Kamayan forum, that approved renewable energy capacity is already enough to power the country forward… no need for new fossil fuel plants, nuclear power, or WTE. “We already have enough renewable energy in the pipeline for the next decade… we do not need nuclear and WTE.”
WTE TECHNOLOGY
On considering Waste-To-Energy technology in the Philippines, Sonia Mendoza, Chairperson of Mother Earth Foundation, warned that WTE incineration actually worsens both the waste and climate crises despite being marketed as a modern solution. She said all thermal WTE processes—from combustion to pyrolysis—emit greenhouse gases (GHGs). They release dioxins linked to cancer and reproductive harm.
She also pointed out that WTE contradicts the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
“We’re already vulnerable to natural hazards. We will exacerbate our vulnerability by these technologies,” Founding GC Trustee Dr. Angelina Galang expressed in concluding the forum.