Typhoon rehab a chance to build climate-resilient sites–Greenpeace

Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Greenpeace on Friday proposed that the government take the rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” as an opportunity to build climate-resilient communities powered by renewable energy (RE).

The environment group cautioned the government from repeating the mistakes of the past, as it advised newly appointed rehabilitation head Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to consider the work ahead as a chance to establish sustainable communities using RE systems.

“Yolanda caught us completely unprepared, forcing us to deal with serious consequences of climate change,” said Amalie Obusan, regional climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

“Aside from the human tragedy, we also have to deal with the socioeconomic impacts. Because the work ahead is massive, critical decisions will be made for the reconstruction and repair of energy systems in the devastated provinces. And this is where RE can make a difference,” she said in a statement.

Solar panels

Yolanda cost the country an estimated P35 billion worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Power systems are mostly down with 1,959 transmission facilities partially or fully destroyed, according to Greenpeace.

Greenpeace said solar panels can make a huge difference to disaster-hit areas, when power lines are down for many days, if not months.

“There would be cost savings for the entire archipelago, and the size of the savings would be commensurate to the number of households and businesses whose partial or total energy re silience would make them suffer less in the aftermath of storm-induced blackouts,” it said.

Obusan said a decentralized energy system, through RE was needed to power communities, especially those living off the main grid.

She cited as an example small-scale solar energy systems that could “foster a small-town energy revolution by and for people, families, communities, farms, and small and medium-sized businesses.”

Recommendations

With RE-powered multimedia technology, teachers and students will have the opportunity for better teaching and learning conditions.

“The ongoing reconstruction will give the government an opportunity to rethink energy systems in these devastated areas,” Obusan said.