PMCJ on International Day of Clean Energy: Scrap Gas Law, Let Coal Die, Ramp Up Our Efforts for Renewables

Media Communications
Jan 25
2 min read

Quezon City, Philippines — We have just entered the new year yet the scrap of the year 2024 still lingers. Last year was a series of disastrous climate events for the Philippines. From the impossible heat wave during the first quarter of the year, to almost concerted major typhoons in the last quarters, the vulnerable communities are always the frontlines of its fury.

Today, January 26, The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) strengthens its resolve with the global network, for the International Day of Clean Energy, to push for a planned and managed phaseout of fossil fuels, ramp up efforts to transition to clean energy—to demand urgent action in addressing the climate crisis the world is in right now.

The earth surpassed the 1.5°C threshold in 2024 as confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change. Despite the expected severity, the government’s approach to climate policy does not stand up to what is needed to face the crisis.

Last January 8, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the gas bill into law. It is being pushed as a transition fuel but, PMCJ has long been highlighting that gas, being a fossil fuel, is always associated with risks and volatility due to political and supply chain challenges. The government must recognize the urgency to focus on the renewable energy industry, over a fake transition fuel.

With governments always falling short in addressing the existential threat to the planet and the people, subnational bodies and organizations have stepped up in taking initiatives to assist the most vulnerable communities.

Through grassroots-based movement and community engagement, there was a successful shift of public perception to transition into 100% RE. One of the most stimulating efforts in changing the narrative is to encourage local government units (LGU), and community-based organizations to act on their future by transitioning to cleaner energy sources through policy initiatives and programs.

In the past year, PMCJ was able to encourage several provinces and municipalities to commit to transition their sources of energy; among the provinces were Albay, Misamis Oriental, and Mindoro Occidental. The most recent partnership was made last January 21, in the municipality of Sablayan in Mindoro Occidental.

These milestones strengthen our efforts in promoting RE solutions and in diminishing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. These efforts are a commanding call for the national government that a just transition to renewables is attainable.

A 2020 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency highlighted the potential of RE solutions in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and how likely it is to lead a more resilient, sustainable, and climate-safe future.

The government, and big fossil fuel companies, must stop offering false solutions. While we call on the government to continue to enforce the coal moratorium, now is the time to demand that it should be made permanent. At the same time, we urge for the scrapping of the law on gas and make the year 2025, the peak of the use of fossil fuels.

System Change, not Climate Change, is what we need for the International Day of Clean Energy. ###

#ClimateEmergency #ClimateJusticeNow #InternationalDayOfCleanEnergy