By Freddie G. Lazaro
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur – Senator Loren Legarda has called for the shift from coal to renewables as the sources of energy to mitigate environmental pollution for the sake of future generations.
Legarda also made a call for a more aggressive effort to achieve the agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on the aspect of renewable energy development.
The lawmaker is the head of the Philippine delegation to the 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking during the breakout session of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade, she emphasized the need to phase out the use of fossil fuels, especially coal, and subsequently shift to renewable energy to mitigate environmental pollution during the presentation of the draft resolution, “Engaging the private sector in implementing the SDGs, especially on renewable energy.”
As a known advocate of sustainable development, Legarda told her fellow legislators that as leaders of their respective parliaments, they must thrive to transform the world into something worthy of passing on to the future generation.
“We must deliver not just development, but sustainable, inclusive and equitable development that should be enjoyed not only by the youth and children of today but also of the generations that will come after us,” Legarda said.
She stressed the need to abide by the nationally determined contributions or NDCs under the Paris Agreement, be forthright not just in its implementation, but to totally end dependency on fossil fuel, particularly coal.
The senator cited that there have been many countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France that have clearly set a timeline to shut down their coal plants. Thus, it is also doable for the rest of the countries to particularly emphasize the transition from fossil fuel and to shut down all coal plants by a certain year.