Abu Dhabi: The Philippines has called on oil-producing countries to ramp up their support in the energy transition initiatives of developing countries like the Philippines that become more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change despite contributing less to global emissions. This was the message of Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Guevara at the 15th session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly in Abu Dhabi held from Jan. 12 to 13.
According to Philippines News Agency, Guevara emphasized the disparity between the contributions to and impacts from climate change experienced by developing countries. "Developing countries are often the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite contributing the least to global emissions," Guevara stated during the Assembly. She underscored the importance of support from countries that have historically benefited from fossil fuels, advocating for their aid in global sustainable efforts.
Guevara outlined the Philippines' clean energy ambitions, aiming to increase the renewable energy (RE) share in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. The Department of Energy has identified six strategies to achieve these goals, including accelerating RE development, constructing a smart and green grid, developing ports for offshore wind, and considering early retirement or repurposing of coal-fired power plants. Efforts also encompass energy efficiency, conservation measures, and decarbonizing the transport sector.
The Philippines anticipates the need for an additional 52.8 gigawatts of new RE installed capacity over the next two decades, with significant investments anticipated from the private sector. To facilitate this, the Marcos administration has relaxed restrictions on foreign investments in the RE sector, now allowing 100 percent equity in RE projects. This policy change has led to a surge in applications for service contracts, with over 1,400 contracts amounting to over 150 GW of RE.
Furthermore, Guevara highlighted the necessity of constructing resilient RE infrastructures capable of withstanding natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The government's initiatives also include promoting exploration in the geothermal sector, extending loan periods for pump storage hydropower technologies, and considering energy transition trading.
"Energy transition is a shared responsibility, and we must act with urgency, solidarity, and fairness," Guevara concluded, calling for collaborative global action to address the pressing challenges of climate change and energy transition.
