SE Asia is regularly suffering from extremely poor air pollution

[ASEAN NOW News]

Last weekend Manila showed a very unhealthy pollution level at 158 Air Quality Index (AQI), HCMC was showing 154, while Bangkok was at just eighty-four.

 

Of course, Bangkok has been suffering from extremely poor air quality for some time, but the city was much quieter when the level was taken due to the Songkran national holidays.

 

Australian coal mining (file photo)

 

According to Greenpeace, the Philippines is still importing 75 percent of its coal supply, mostly from Indonesia and Australia.

 

It may take time for alternative sources to go into production, could be years.

 

Meanwhile, at least one company here in the Philippines, Pampanga-based renewable energy developer Raslag Corp, is trying to do something.

 

They announced in the press last week, that it is tapping the stock market to raise huge sums for its two solar projects. 

 

The Raslag founder is also optimistic for the country’s renewable energy sector, especially solar power, as opportunities remain rosy for solar power firms.

 

Solar power is clean, and prices stay stable

 

Nepomuceno said one of the advantages of solar is that its prices do not go up as compared to the volatile prices of coal and fuel.

 

“The price of solar does not go up, but the price of coal and bunker fuel and other fuels keeps going up. So eventually, solar becomes cheaper. It will be cheaper than coal or other fuels. And besides, it will be helping the climate by putting in more renewables,” he said.

 

But why should they need to get funds via the stock market?

 

Why isn’t the Philippine government jumping in to fund this project, instead of buying more unhealthy coal from Australia?

 

The world is desperate to eliminate fossil fuels, but is it happening fast enough?

 

Many countries especially in Europe are desperately trying to replace their dependence on Russian gas.

 

Some like the Philippines are even considering importing coal from Australia…. surely a step in the wrong way!!!

 

It is likely to get much worse before governments are forced by public opinion to take drastic action.

 

It seems it is up to us citizens of the World to use the conflict with Russia to speed up the use of cleaner and cheaper sources of energy.

 

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