Greenpeace ‘Polar Bear’ visits Philippines straight from Bali

Demands swift passage of Renewable Energy Bill

Manila, 19 December 2007—”My home is in danger—so is yours,” a
Greenpeace ‘polar bear’ today warned lawmakers, as he demanded, in a
visit to the Senate, that the government immediately pass the Renewable
Energy (RE) Bill.

Going by the moniker ‘P. Bear,’ the Greenpeace mascot, accompanied by
volunteers, also hung a Christmas stocking at the Senate entrance. The
stocking contained messages to lawmakers asking for the immediate
enactment of the RE Bill as a manifestation of the government’s
commitment to help mitigate climate change impacts. The RE Bill will
serve as a Christmas present to the Filipino people.

‘P. Bear’ arrived in Manila straight from the UN climate change meeting
in Bali where he drummed up the need for urgent action to save the
planet from the serious impacts of global warming.

“The message from the UN Bali meeting last week is clear: all countries
must work together and act now to stop this impending global
catastrophe. In the Philippines, the government must now walk the talk.
Obviously it is not enough for government to merely mouth pretty
speeches about saving the climate,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Climate and Energy campaigner Jasper Inventor.

Greenpeace has been repeatedly calling on the Philippine government to
ensure the swift passage of the RE bill which has been languishing in
Congress for many years now. The passage of the RE Bill will be the
country’s first important contribution to help combat the grave impacts
of climate change which will put the future of millions of Filipinos at
risk. Greenpeace asserts that the RE Bill must additionally contain
strong mechanisms and ambitious targets so that it can catalyze the
shift away from the country’s dependency on fossil fuels and pave the
path for the massive uptake of renewable energy solutions.

Although the call to enact the RE Bill has been echoed by key government
officials, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, no
definite move has been made to expedite the bill’s immediate passage.

Climate scientists have warned that developing countries such as the
Philippines are the most at risk from the impacts of climate change. In
a recent report, the Philippines topped the list as the country most
affected by climate change in 2006, due to extreme weather disasters.
Sea level rise due to climate change is also projected to flood more
than 1,000 coastal municipalities and cities in the country, including
its capital, Manila.

But, while the Philippines’ wind energy potential is estimated to meet
seven times the country’s total energy demand and the country’s solar
energy potential also possesses one of the highest efficiency ratings in
the world, RE technologies such as wind, solar and modern biomass today
represent less than 0.2% of the overall Philippine power mix.

“The Philippines must lay down a strong foundation for a sustainable and
secure energy future. This requires RE legislation with real ambition
and clear targets. Today we are challenging our legislators to go beyond
rhetoric and demonstrate with clear actions that they are taking
important steps to mainstream genuine climate change solutions. Right
now the RE Bill has started moving once again in the Senate and in the
Lower House. But the pace at which the RE Bill deliberations will
proceed will be the true measure of the government’s commitment to
safeguarding the country’s future,” said Inventor.

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts
to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the
environment and to promote peace.

For more information:
Jasper Inventor, Climate and Energy Campaigner, +63 917 300 9567
Lea Guerrero, Media Campaigner, +63 916 374 4969, +63 2 434 7034 loc 121

–
Lea Guerrero
Media Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
tel: +63 2 434 7034 loc 121
fax: +63 2 434 7035
mob: +63 920 950 6877
skype: leaguerrero
lea.guerrero@greenpeace.org

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