PHL civil-society group slams ADB ‘hypocrisy’

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WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2011 20:22 CAI ORDINARIO / REPORTER

LOCAL civil-society organization Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to cease financing coal-fired power plants in the Southeast Asian region, including the Philippines.

In a statement, PMCJ convener and Freedom from Debt Coalition secretary-general Milo Tanchuling said the ADB is a part of the climate-change problem and should face its accountability in contributing to the climate crisis.

The PMCJ said instead of setting up funds for clean technology and hosting the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) 2011, the Manila-based development bank should stop funding coal-fired power plants. The statement, likewise, branded ADB as “hypocrite” in hosting the ongoing ACEF.

“[The ACEF is] nothing but a strategy of the bank to improve its bad image for funding coal-fired power plants not only in the Philippines but also in some Asian countries,” Tanchuling said.

He added the ADB funded the Visayas base-load power project and pushed for the privatization of the Masinloc coal-fired power plant. The PMCJ said both utilize coal for energy production.

PMCJ also said the ADB funded coal-fired power plants in some Asian countries, including Thailand, China, Vietnam and India, where the 400-megawatt Mundra Ultra Mega Power Project is built.

According to reports, PMCJ said coal is the most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels emitting 29 percent more carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80 percent more than gas.

“We are in the midst of an energy crisis and what we urgently need is a global energy revolution; a new energy agenda that recognizes and addresses the climate crisis; a transition plan to a postpetrol world. With ACEF, ADB and its business partners are trying to consolidate their ‘energy business plan’ as a way to protect business interests in the energy sector,” Joseph Purugganan of Focus on the Global South said in a statement.

The PMCJ said in Naga, the Cebu Alliance for Renewable Energy conducted a survey showing increase cases of skin and respiratory illnesses according to communities around the Visayas base-load project.

It added that the Masinloc coal-fired power plant presented the same level of hazards. According to a study conducted by Greenpeace, PMCJ said coal ash from the plant contains large amounts of carcinogens, lead and chromium, which are deadly and pose a grave threat to communities and the environment.

PMCJ issued the statement at the start of the 6th ACEF, which aims to explore issues in the clean-energy sector, including policy, regulation, financing and innovative business models under the theme “New Business Models and Policy Drivers: Building the Low-Carbon Future.”

Senior representatives from the host organizations along with energy leaders from around the world are participating in the event.

(With J. Mayuga)