Civil society to ADB: Come clean in financing energy tech projects

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

INCHEON, South Korea—Civil society organizations (CSO) called on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to be more transparent in its efforts to finance energy technologies that may not all be clean and green. In a session on Tuesday, regional civil society alliances said that while ADB is no longer financing new coal projects, it must reconsider its efforts to finance projects such as waste-toenergy (WtE) incinerators, hydroelectric dams and fuel switching schemes involving reliance on fossil gas.

G erry Arances of Philippinebased Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED) said ADB should focus its financial resources on renewable energy solutions instead of new gas projects.

There is no justice in a power sector that ties consumers to decades more of high electricity prices, communities to continued pollution, or countries like the Philippines that have been battered far too much already by catastrophic climate disasters to greater climate vulnerability fueled by fossil-based energy,” Arances said.

The greatest service that ADB can render is to ensure a 1.5 degrees Celsius aligned transition to 100 percent renewable energy at the soonest time possible for its member countries. No detours, no false solutions,” he stressed.

Lidy Nacpil of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development also stressed that fossil gas expansion is toxic and unsustainable for Asia. This is not an energy solution as it will only worsen climate change.

She stressed that new gas projects can also lock greenhouse gas emissions for years and delay the clean energy transition. This, she said, will undermine energy security and sustainable development.

Mayang Azurin of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives-Asia

Pacific (GAIA-AP) also reiterated the position of GAIA-AP member organization, the Alliance of Indian Wastepickers—that a just transition for wastepickers would include the end of support for incineration plants.

The continued burning of recyclable wastes for Waste-to-Energy incineration destroys millions of wastepickers’ livelihoods and undermines the potential for inclusive circularity of natural resources and climate resiliency. Therefore, beyond ending support for building out WtE, equally important is that waste pickers need to be recognized and integrated in decentralized waste management,” Azurin said.

Meanwhile, in a news conference on Tuesday, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa assured the public that Manila-based multilateral development bank has no plans of financing new coal projects as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement.

ADB is taking bold climate action. We aim to deliver $100 billion in climate finance to our developing member countries between 2019 and 2030. We will fully align all our operations with the Paris Agreement by no later than 2025. We will expand our investments in renewable energy options, and we will not invest in coal,” Asakawa said.

T he regional alliances raised critical perspectives on the ADB’s support for resource intensive infrastructure projects in the name of the energy transition, including WtE incinerators, hydroelectric dams and fuel switching schemes involving reliance on fossil gas.

T hey highlighted the concerns of local communities and workers who have been—and continue to be— negatively affected as a result of ADB’s direct project-based loans, equity investments and technical assistance. D uring the panel session, ADB Vice President of East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia, Ahmed Saeed was also present to provide remarks and responses.

Modular nuclear reactor for PHL power generation, supply pushed

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO

CITY—The

country may experiment on the suitability of small modular nuclear reactors for a stable energy supply and to enable it to transition into a low to zero carbon emitting economy, the Philippine office of the business advisory council of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) has disclosed.

T his was presented by Abac Philippines during the second Abac meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei Darussalam from April 27 to 30. The use of the modular nuclear reactors was one of two “key initiatives” presented to the main Abac body which endorsed them.

G inggay Hontiveros, Aboitiz’s chief reputation and sustainability officer and Sabin Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of the Aboitiz Group presented the two work plans, “focused on developing a free and accessible climate risk data and analysis platform, and exploring the viability of nuclear energy through small modular reactors [SMR] and emerging technology as a zero-carbon energy source.”

A statement on Tuesday from Abac Philippines and Aboitiz Equity Ventures said the two work plans were aimed at “boosting sustainable development efforts in the region and beyond.”

These plans reflect our commitment to enabling the transition to low-carbon economies and combating the damaging effects of climate change. Through these initiatives, we aim to develop sustainable and equitable energy solutions within the Asia-Pacific region and beyond,” Aboitiz said.

A boitiz is a member of Abac Philippines and the vice-chairman of the Abac Sustainable Growth Working Group (SGWG).

He said the work plans “focused on promoting effective climate change response, advancing the low-carbon energy transition, and addressing sustainable processes in the food value chain.”

A boitiz said the working group “recognizes the potential of nuclear energy as a driver of the energy transition based on its high return on investment and weather independence.”

It would also serve its purpose in the country’s decarbonization.

H e said the modular reactors are advanced compact nuclear reactors that have a fraction of the generating power capacity of traditional nuclear reactors. “They can be scaled up or down to help meet energy demands and address energy security.”

Aboitiz said Abac Philippines and Abac Canada would convene an experts roundtable in June “to scope the prospects for nuclear, including other use cases such as medical technology and life sciences.”

“ It will require all available technologies as we embark on this energy transition pathway in the Philippines. Promising technologies such as SMRs can be a viable power source for an equitable and sustainable energy system,” Aboitiz said.

A long with accessing the modular reactors, the working group would also seeks to develop a climate risk information database and platform to help economies assess the gaps, enhance climate risk assessment capabilities and strengthen climate resilience.

T he Abac Philippines said this would improve availability and accessibility of climate information to enable small and medium enterprises “to be more integrated into the environmental, social and governance [ESG] framework.”

T he group recommended establishing a multi-year work program on nuclear energy and integrating climate risk information into the planning process of Apec economies. The plans of Apec Philippines already garnered support from seven Asean members in Apec during the Abac-Asean Caucus held on April 28 at the sidelines of Abac II.