Greenpeace in the Philippines

Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior today called
off its peaceful protest at the Pagbilao coal-fired power station
assured that it has initiated strong political movement toward a
moratorium on expansion of coal power in the Philippines through a
resolution in the Senate.
   
       
      
For three days now Greenpeace has been holding a peaceful protest at
Pagbilao coal plant in Quezon Province, 150 kilometers south of Manila,
to bring the attention of the Philippine government to the devastation
caused by climate change and to call for a stop to further construction
and expansion of coal power in the country.  The group is calling on
the government to instead tap the massive potential of clean, safe,
renewable energy.

Earlier today Senator Zubiri declared that he would seek a moratorium
on the expansion of coal power in the Philippines through a
resolution.  In a media statement Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed his
support for the campaign of Greenpeace Southeast the Asia to pressure
energy officials to "Quit coal" to mitigate global warming caused by
greenhouse gas emissions.

In a communiqué to Rainbow Warrior, Senator Zubiri said:  "I will file
a resolution in the Senate seeking a halt in the construction of new
coal fired power plants in the country.  In tandem will be a strong
Renewable Energy Bill that shall allow us to shift towards a low carbon
economy, and away from dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal.
Coal carries huge environmental, health and social costs."

"We have made our point here.  The expansion of the Pagbilao coal plant
as well as the proposed construction of new plants should not be
allowed to continue.  We welcome Senator Zubiri’s intervention and call
on our decision makers in government to take responsibility and lead us
away from this deadly reliance on dirty fossil fuels.  By continuing on
this dirty energy pathway, the government is guilty of condemning
Filipinos to an insecure and calamitous future." Said Von Hernandez,
Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has been
identified as the nation most affected by climate impacts in 2006 by
the NGO GermanWatch.  The country has been ravaged by some of the most
powerful storms, floods and mudslides in recent years.

"In the process of calling attention to the deleterious impacts related
to the expansion of this coal plant, we may have committed some
infractions, but we believe what is at stake here is more serious than
the alleged violations. Our intention is to alert all Filipinos about
the hazards posed by coal fired power plant and climate change, it is
the single largest threat to all humanity on the planet, and I am happy
to receive confirmation from Senator Zubiri that he is going to
intervene in the Senate and push for the passage of the Renewable
Energy Bill," said Captain Mike Fincken of the Rainbow Warrior.

Burning coal is the single biggest source of carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions, and a major cause of climate change. Coal emits 29% more
carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80% more than gas.  But despite
the threat of climate change impacts and a 54% overcapacity in
electricity production, the government has approved the construction of
new coal power plants and expansion of older ones.

The Rainbow Warrior is in the Philippines to spearhead the Greenpeace
"Quit Coal Tour" in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The tour aims to
promote an energy revolution to stop climate change, which includes
phasing out the use of climate-damaging coal and a massive uptake of
renewable energy.

Greenpeace activists aboard Rainbow Warrior,
anchored alongside Pagbilao coal plant, painted the words ‘Quit Coal’
on the hull of a 223 meter vessel ‘Sam John Spirit’ standing by to
unload yet another shipment of thousands of tons of coal at Pagbilao
power plant in the Philippines. The Rainbow Warrior is in the
Philippines on its ‘Quit Coal-Save the Climate’ tour of Southeast Asia
and the Pacific.
   
       
      
The Rainbow Warrior has anchored alongside the said coal-fired power
plant since yesterday to expose how coal causes climate change and to
send a message that the Philippines should stop building and expanding
harmful coal-fired power plants.  The Pagbilao coal plant is one of
nine currently in the government’s pipeline for either expansion or
construction.

The Greenpeace ship’s anchorage was in no way impeding the unloading of
coal currently ongoing at the plant’s wharf, or preventing the plant’s
generating operations.  The plant itself currently has enough stockpile
to run uninterrupted for around a month.  The activists painted a third
coal shipment, Sam John Spirit, at anchor some four kilometers from the
wharf.  Greenpeace is sending a message that coal expansion should stop
because of coal’s huge environmental costs.

"Enough is enough, there should be no more construction or expansion of
coal fired power plants in the Philippines.  We cannot allow our
short-sighted government to burn our future. Pagbilao coal plant alone
dumps as much as five million tonnes of the greenhouse gas carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere every year. The more coal we burn, the
lesser our chances are of effectively combating the climate change
catastrophe," said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaign Manager Beau
Baconguis onboad the Rainbow Warrior.

There are currently eight coal-fired power plants in the Philippines,
with a total capacity of 4,177 MW, or about 26.1% of the country’s
installed capacity. Together, the coal plants already account for as
much as 36% of the emissions from the energy sector.

However, the government currently has at least nine coal-fired plants
lined up for construction or expansion in the country:  the 300 MW
expansion in Pagbilao, Quezon, 100 MW in Concepcion, Iloilo, 165 MW in
Iloilo City, 200 MW each in Naga and Toledo Cities in Cebu, 300 MW
expansion in Masinloc, Zambales, 300 MW in Olongapo, Zambales, 150 MW
in Sultan Kudarat, and 200 MW in Saranggani.

"Clearly the national government is not serious about addressing
climate change.  You can’t stop a problem by abetting the cause," said
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper
Inventor. "If the government wants to do right, the first thing on
their list would be to quit coal and ensure there will be no more new
coal construction and expansion.  The government must then start
phasing out of this dirty and dangerous power source while increasingly
tapping clean, safe, renewable energy.  Renewable energy sources are
abundant in our country, the only thing we need more of is the
political will to deploy them," he added.

The energy sector is responsible for some two-thirds of world’s climate
change-causing greenhouse gas emissions.  Coal-fired power plants are
the biggest offenders.  Coal is the dirtiest, most carbon intensive of
all fossil fuels. Coal emits 29% more carbon per unit of energy than
oil  and 80% more than gas.  Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main driver of
climate change, representing a major portion o the world’s greenhouse
gas emissions.  Globally, coal accounts for almost 60% of carbon
dioxide emissions from the power sector.

Environment ministers from G8 countries are scheduled to meet today
with climate change on top of their agenda. Greenpeace is also calling
on G8 countries to take real action against climate change, and deliver
an Energy Revolution that makes coal the fuel of last resort.

The ship’s first port of call was Legazpi City, Albay, where the
Governor of Albay declared the province a "no-coal zone" during a press
conference onboard the vessel.

The Rainbow Warrior is in the Philippines to spearhead the Greenpeace
"Quit Coal Tour" in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The tour aims to
promote solutions to stop climate change–an energy revolution away
from the use of climate-damaging coal, and a massive shift to renewable
energy. more info on www.greenpeace.org.ph/quitcoal

The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior today
blocked coal shipments at the Pagbilao coal-fired power plant in Quezon
province, 150 kilometers southwest of Manila to protest the impending
expansion of the said plant.
   
       
      
The Rainbow Warrior anchored alongside the coal ship Medi Firenze
unloading a cargo of coal at the Pagbilao plant’s loading pier, and
prevented a bigger shipment of coal–from the 223 meter vessel Sam John
Spirit standing by to unload–from approaching.

A giant banner reading "Quit coal" the Rainbow Warrior’s masts to drive
home the message that the Philippine government should stop building
and expanding harmful coal-fired power plants.

"Being one of the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts, the
Philippines should address climate change by immediately stopping the
expansion and construction of new coal plants. The Philippines already
produces 54% more power than it needs. We should invest in improving
the power grid rather than expanding a coal plant that reduces our
chances of preventing dangerous climate change," said Beau Baconguis,
Campaign Manager of Greenpeace Southeast Asia from onboard the Rainbow
Warrior.

Burning coal is the single biggest source of carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions, and a major cause of climate change. Coal emits 29% more
carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80% more than gas.  The
Philippines, an archipelagic country, composed of more than 7,000 small
islands has been identified as the nation most affected by climate
impacts in 2006 by the NGO GermanWatch.

But Philippine communities are taking action, realizing that dirty
energy is directly responsible for the impacts that ravage their homes
and livelihoods. Upon the arrival of the Rainbow Warrior in the
Philippines yesterday, the governor of Albay, the Philippine province
most ravaged by storms and mudslides in recent memory, immediately
declared his province a "no-coal zone".

"The Philippine government should take Albay’s declaration as an urgent
call to action against climate change. It is untenable to continue our
dependence on coal given its increasing price in the market and the
environmental impacts attached to it. Coal will actually  exacerbate
our energy insecurities," said Jasper Inventor, Climate and Energy
Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. "The Philippines should send a
strong message to ASEAN countries to lead the way in phasing out the
use of coal. Greenpeace is also calling on developed countries to
provide assistance to developing countries like the Philippines in the
fight to stop climate change."

Environment ministers from G8 countries are scheduled to meet from May
24 with climate change on top of their agenda. Greenpeace calls on G8
countries to take real action against climate change, deliver an Energy
Revolution that makes coal the fuel of last resort.

The Rainbow Warrior is in the Philippines to spearhead the Greenpeace
"Quit Coal Tour" in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The tour aims to
promote solutions to stop climate change–an energy revolution away
from the use of climate-damaging coal, and a massive shift to renewable
energy.

Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior docked today
in Legazpi City, Albay province, 556 kilometers south of Manila, to
kick off a month-long ‘Quit coal, save the climate’ tour of the
Philippines.
   
       
      

“We are here to expose the role of coal in climate change, the greatest
threat to life and biodiversity on the planet. We are here to highlight
the urgent need for adoption of strong mitigation and adaptation
measures to tackle the worst impacts of climate change,” said Mike
Fincken, skipper of the Rainbow Warrior.

The Philippines ranks among the countries most at risk from climate
change, and Albay a province most vulnerable to extreme weather impacts
of climate change. In 2006, Albay was pummeled by a series of strong
typhoons, including Super Typhoon Reming (Durian). Reming triggered a
massive mudslide on the slopes of Mayon Volcano, killed 734 people,
wrecked or damaged more than half a million houses, and left PhP1.6
billion in agricultural damages in the province.

“It is time that Malacanang woke up. There is very little time to waste
and the tide is not going to wait either. Coal causes climate change.
Climate change is already wreaking havoc across the country. But those
in power are either asleep or choose to ignore what scientists are
proclaiming” said Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director. “Greenpeace believes that any attempt to seriously address
global warming must recognize that governments must quit coal and
choose an energy development path built on clean and renewable sources
of energy and which promotes energy efficiency for a truly secure and
sustainable future,” he added.

It is now an accepted fact that Carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal fired
power plants, is the main driver of climate change, representing a
major portion of the world’ s greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, coal
accounts for almost 60% of carbon dioxide emissions from the power
sector. In the Philippines eight coal fired power plants, with a total
capacity of 4,177 MW, or about 26.1% of the country’s installed
capacity, currently account for as much as 36% of the emissions from
the energy sector. However, nine coal-fired plants are currently up for
construction or expansion in the country despite the fact that the
government recognizes the Philippines as among the countries most
vulnerable to climate change.

In 2007, Albay province took the lead in climate change adaptation,
initiating and hosting the first National Conference on Climate Change
Adaptation (NCCCA), which produced the Albay Declaration on Climate
Change Adaptation.

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