Greenpeace Urges Marcos to Prioritize Renewable Energy

Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace Philippines has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pursue a stronger renewable energy agenda, asserting that genuine energy independence cannot be achieved through what it describes as "false solutions" such as nuclear power, fossil gas, and waste-to-energy projects. In a statement released following President Marcos’ fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Greenpeace Philippines stated that the country needs to "transition away from fossil fuels" and invest in renewable energy sources. "We need to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy sources," Greenpeace Philippines said. According to Greenpeace, the Philippines needs to "rethink its energy policy" and embrace "cleaner, more sustainable sources of power" to achieve true energy independence. The group also urged the government to "accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects" and "phase out" coal-fired power plants. "We cannot achieve true energy independence by relying on fossil fuels, which are volatile in price and contribute to climate change," Greenpeace Philippines added. The Philippines has been working to increase its renewable energy capacity, with the Department of Energy setting targets for renewable energy generation. However, the country still heavily relies on fossil fuels for its energy needs. Greenpeace's call highlights the ongoing debate in the Philippines about the country's energy future and the urgent need to address climate change while ensuring energy security. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo