Transition to clean energy is crucial

The actual start of summer in the United States is still a month away but people are already beginning to feel the heat. Many countries across the globe, particularly in Asia, are also experiencing scorching temperatures at above 40 degrees Centigrade (104 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting climatologist and weather historian Maximilliano Herrera to declare that “thousands of records are being brutalized all over Asia, which is by far the most extreme event in world climatic history.”

In Thailand, government authorities said at least 30 people have died of heatstroke, with incidents of death also reported in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Health authorities are on the alert for reports of hospitalizations due to heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. Vietnam has issued warnings on the risks of forest fires.

In the Philippines, millions of students are shifting to online learning as face-to-face classes in all school levels across the country are being suspended due to extreme heat, with high blood pressure, dizziness and fainting reported among students and teachers. The Department of Agriculture said the sweltering heat exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon has caused P4.39 billion in damages to the agriculture sector due to the resulting dry spell, devastating the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk in 11 regions, with many local government units declaring a state of calamity.

In the United States, weather experts have warned that triple-digit temperatures experienced last summer could happen again. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, majority of the US could see above normal temperatures this summer with several states, including Washington, DC, getting hotter than usual.

The World Meteorological Organization said, “Asia is warming faster than the global average,” with many countries experiencing extreme heat events in 2023. Aside from droughts and heatwaves, countries also suffered the impact of floods and storms that have been increasing in severity over the years.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo clearly stated, “Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in.”

More than ever, there is no doubt that extreme weather changes are caused by climate change, with fossil fuels, namely coal, oil and gas, being the biggest contributors to global climate change and accounting for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions, according to the United Nations.

A report published at the NASA Earth Observatory website said total emissions in 2023 is estimated at 40.9 billion metric tons, with both 2022 and 2023 seeing record increases in carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. “The rise in heat-trapping carbon dioxide – and other greenhouse gases – is the primary reason for the planet’s soaring temperatures,” the report said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been urging leaders of developed countries to fulfill their commitments and do more to address the threats of climate change. Although the Philippines is not a top carbon dioxide emitter, it is at the top of the most climate-vulnerable countries list, according to the 2023 World Risk Index.

“This glaring disproportion between our share of responsibility and our vulnerability reflects an injustice that must be corrected. Developed countries must do more. And they must do it now,” the President said during his address to the Australian Parliament last February.

Clearly, the transition to clean and renewable energy sources has become even more crucial than ever to mitigate the impact of climate change and cope with the increasing energy requirements of the country.

During the historic trilateral summit between the Philippines, Japan and the US, a key commitment was to increase their cooperation towards the transition to clean energy.

“Our three nations seek to expand trilateral cooperation in the Philippines on the deployment of clean energy technologies, including renewable energy projects such as solar and wind, to support energy requirements in the Philippines and help ensure a just energy transition,” the Joint Statement read.

While there are major challenges that we will face in the future, emerging technology will play a big part in developing solutions, among them nuclear. The 123 civil-nuclear cooperation agreement between the US and the Philippines will pave the way for climate and energy transition goals while securing the Philippines’ energy future. We are also optimistic that in the next five to 10 years, we will be seeing small nuclear modular power plants being deployed in the Philippines for much safer and cleaner energy.

AI or artificial intelligence will also play a major role in revolutionizing the energy sector. The US government is poised to invest trillions of dollars in energy infrastructure, with AI enabling better design structures, efficient monitoring, optimized generation and demand that can bring about billions of dollars in savings annually.

An interesting piece of news came out recently about a Filipino engineer who developed a thermal insulating powder that when applied as coating or paint, can reportedly reduce room temperatures by 30 to 60 percent. Apparently, the engineer was inspired by NASA’s technology in developing the coating for space shuttles. If this is something viable, then we should look into it and perhaps use this to paint the walls of classrooms to help insulate our children from suffering in the heat.

It truly takes a Filipino to be innovative in finding ways to survive this sometimes-cruel world. We are a good people – and we certainly don’t deserve to be pushed around by bully nations. We are naturally kind and hospitable; we are much appreciated by many nations worldwide, and surely our resilience will help us survive the many challenges that we face, both internally and externally.

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