Gas emissions in PH seen rising

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the Philippines is set for “dramatic increases” unless a proactive approach to mitigation is taken, according to a report of the Asian Development Bank.

The ADB’s 89-page report, “Pathways to Low-Carbon Development for the Philippines,” finds that without actions to mitigate climate change, GHG emissions from the sectors of transportation, power generation and household electricity may rise by six times between 2015 and 2050.

The ADB said that, on the other hand, a limited number of options in these sectors have the potential to dramatically reduce emissions, with nearly a 70-percent reduction by 2050.

“When the fact that many of these options have substantial co-benefits is considered, this suggests that the Philippines has much to gain from a low-carbon path,” the bank said.

“It also suggests that the country may be an efficient object of carbon finance were international carbon markets to emerge from the Paris Agreement or as an object of international assistance,” the ADB added, referring to an international pact to limit global warming to below 2 degrees from pre-industrial level.

The multilateral lender said that, in the Philippines, most of the mitigation potential were seen in low-carbon electricity generation in the power sector.

“In the medium term, this study finds substantial potential for abatement from renewables using current technologies, while in the longer term, more advanced technologies are likely to be needed to continue low-carbon growth of the energy mix,” the ADB said.

In the power generation sector, ADB finds that current policies provide many of the elements needed to promote increased generation from renewables and other low-carbon sources.

But the bank also finds that implementation can be extended and augmented with a greater array of complementary measures like facilitative infrastructure and altered contracting arrangements.