DENR Reviews Environmental Clearance Processes For Renewable Energy Projects

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is reviewing the environmental clearance processes for onshore and offshore solar and wind projects, as well as exploring the use of alternative fuels for shipping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment Secretary Toni Loyzaga said the government wants to work with the Nordic governments and the private sector to speed up decarbonization efforts in the Philippines.

“We are reviewing the environmental clearance processes for onshore and offshore solar power. This is to facilitate more capital investments in the renewable energy sector, but also to bring us up to speed in terms of global standards of competitiveness in this regard,” Loyzaga said.

The agency wants to focus on sustainable mobility and shipping to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector.

Seafarers will be trained to operate new technologies and handle alternative fuel sources like ammonia, which could pose a significant health and safety risk to them.

“As we are the primary source of professional seafarers all over the world, there must be just a transition here,” Loyzaga said.

Loyzaga also said that the agency will explore waste-to-fuel and waste-to-energy technologies “to address the growing solid waste problem.” However, green groups and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and the Clean Air Act prohibit the burning of wastes that emits poisonous and toxic fumes.

Loyzaga also brought up the need to revitalize the mining industry and steer the sector toward a safe and sustainable future.

“The DENR believes that the resilient mining industry could be an effective vehicle for supporting the improvements in our people’s quality of life through capital formation and wealth creation,” Loyzaga said.

“But it must invest simultaneously in operational efficiency, social and environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction,” Loyzaga added.

Meanwhile, the embassies of  Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden discussed sustainable and innovative solutions to address climate change.

“Our four embassies have joined forces to provide a venue for climate discourse to increase our awareness and understanding about the challenges of climate change, to facilitate a dialogue among public sector, business, civil society, and academe, and to work together towards possible solutions in the context of sustainable development and circular economy,” Finnish Ambassador Juha Pyykkö said.

The Nordic embassies are working with the Philippine government and private organizations to promote green, competitive, and sustainable development.

“The Nordic countries are at the forefront of pushing forward the climate action agenda and at the same time presenting climate-smart solutions and we are committed to being the most sustainable region in the world by 2030. We are also committed to sharing our experiences with the world, to the Philippines,” Norwegian Ambassador Christian Halaas-Lyster said.

Source: Philstar