Aside from promoting better relations among feuding neighbors, there was another significant development at the recently concluded annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum: a pledge from two of the world’s largest consumers of fossil fuels to cooperate in confronting climate change.
The United States and China committed to make substantial reductions in their carbon dioxide emissions within specific periods. Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country’s emissions would peak by 2030 before declining, with renewables to constitute 20 percent of the energy mix. US President Barack Obama, for his part, said that by 2025, his country would be emitting 26 to 28 percent less carbon dioxide than in 2005.
Some quarters believe the Chinese reduction commitment should take place much earlier. Still, percentage reductions in China translate into huge amounts in a country that remains heavily dependent on coal for its energy needs. The choking pollution in its cities including the capital Beijing might have encouraged the commitment.
Smaller countries are expected to do their part. The Philippines, being one of the most vulnerable to the devastating impact of climate change, must contribute its share in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Relevant laws have been passed in recent years, including the Clean Air Act. As in many other laws in this country, however, enforcement leaves much to be desired. A drive around Metro Manila will show immediately that authorities have failed to implement laws on vehicular emissions. Industrial compliance is also spotty.
Implementation of the law has also shown a need to amend certain provisions. The ban on waste incineration deserves a second look with the emergence of better incineration technology and the lack of facilities for proper garbage disposal. More legislation is also needed to encourage investments in renewable energy.
Developing countries have argued that fossil fuels are still the most affordable sources of energy and are indispensable in economic activities that are needed for job generation and poverty alleviation. The costs to public health and the risks posed by climate change, however, are now being factored into the equation. The Philippines, like the rest of the world, is seeing that climate change mitigation is indispensable for sustained development.