Since the discovery of fossil fuels 150 years ago, the accumulation of carbon dioxide has significantly impacted weather conditions, especially climate change.
“There is no other way to go in terms of energy usage; renewable energy is the target around the world,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenergy Solar Corporation Engr. Cerael Donngay, who is also a clean energy advocate during the Talakayan sa PIA up close and personal at SM City CDO Uptown.
Renewable energy is clean energy that is free of carbon dioxide, just like solar energy. “It is the process of using the protons from the energy of the sun converting to electrical energy so there’s no carbon dioxide,” he explained.
Other renewable energies include wind and hydropower.
Donggay shared that because of the blow of the wind velocity, it pushes the blade to rotate and produce electricity; meanwhile, in the case of hydro, because of the gravity, the hydro potential energy or kinetic energy that rotates the turban produces electricity, so there is no carbon dioxide and it remains a clean energy.
In 2018, Donggay reported a global emission of 38 billion tons of carbon dioxide.
He continued by explaining the implementation of the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change. At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, a total of 197 parties or countries agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions due to the alarming increase in global temperature. They emphasized that the global temperature should never rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial age, setting that as the target.
Regrettably, Donggay stated that the situation is deteriorating. “We are already touching the 1.5 degrees Celsius increase, and once it increases to 2 degrees Celsius, there will be a profound catastrophic event that will happen to this earth,” he said.
Who is to blame for climate change?
According to the United Nations (un.org), the average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years.
The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, and each of the last four decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.
Climate change is defined as long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns due to natural changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.
But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, the UN added.
The National Renewable Energy Program
Virgilio B. Arzadon, Senior Science Research Specialist, Department of Energy Mindanao Field Office, shared that renewable energy is a priority program of the Philippine government.
“We are doing gradual facing out of fossil fuels; dito tayo sa (we should opt for) renewable energy,” Arzadon said.
According to the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Program, the development and optimal use of the country’s renewable energy resources are central to the Philippines’ sustainable energy agenda.
Renewable energy is an essential component of the country’s low emissions development strategy and is critical to addressing climate change, energy security, and energy access.
The National Renewable Energy Program outlines the policy framework enshrined in Republic Act 9513. It sets the strategic building blocks that will help the country achieve the goals set forth in the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. (JMOR/PIA-10)
