HIDILYN Diaz recently returned from the Tokyo Olympic Games with a gold medal – the first Filipino ever to obtain an Olympic Gold. It was a courageous performance as she had to lift a personal best in order to win.
Last Friday’s announcement that Filipina Maria Ressa shared this year’s Nobel Peace Prize with Russian independent (relatively) journalist Dmitry Muratov also came as a pleasant surprise. Their citation read, in part: “For their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
We have a long way to go before we reach the “vibrant democracy” that we often talk about as a desirable goal, but positive international recognition of the achievements of Filipinos is much appreciated.
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In a few weeks’ time, Glasgow, Scotland, will be hosting what is likely to be a vital international conference dealing with climate change. The question remains as to what level of commitment and to what degree of urgency will be expected of delegates.
Climate is, by definition, international. Therefore decision-makers cannot hide behind the off-quoted excuse: “We cannot allow you to interfere with our sovereignty”.
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Around a dozen years ago, the Philippines took small steps in order to resist the deleterious impact of climate change by encouraging power producers to switch to hydro, solar, wind-all renewable forms of energy, and away from polluting fossil fuels.
The National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) headed by Atty Pete Maniego introduced the concept of ‘feed-in-tariffs’ (FIT) – in effect a subsidy designed to incentivize greater use of renewables. This program has produced results but we have a long way to go before the move away from fossil fuels will produce significant results.
A factor that I hope is not neglected by the Glasgow conference is that developing countries, such as the Philippines, have a very small carbon footprint compared with the developed nations. We should expect greater changes in the form of reduced pollution from developed countries.
“‘Let polluter pay” should be the outcome of the conference./PN
