Case Against Nuclear Energy

Case Against Nuclear Energy

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:34:00 05/17/2008
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/talkofthetown/view/20080517-137202/Case-against-nuclear-energy

AN ARTICLE CALLING FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE MOTHBALLED 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) drew sharp reactions from environmental groups. The article, written by F.G. Delfin, a former energy undersecretary, appeared in this section on April 27.

The Philippine Network on Climate Change called on the government to reject nuclear power as a source of energy because of concerns such as the location and security of the plant and its health and environmental impact.

Delfin said reviving the BNPP was urgent amid the high oil prices, the demand to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the need for reliable power to fuel economic growth.

A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that visited the country in January said the government would need at least $800 million to jumpstart its nuclear power program. The amount would cover the two-year feasibility study that the government plans to undertake and the construction of a new facility that would use the BNPP.

The IAEA team will recommend whether to rehabilitate and refire the BNPP, convert it into a plant that will use another type of fuel, or just junk it altogether. -- Ed.

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Nuclear power not part of a viable nonfossil-energy future

By the Philippine Network on Climate Change

F.G. DELFIN’S proposal to revive the nuclear program is unmistakably oblivious of the mandate under the country’s 25-year development plan crafted by the Ramos administration, which enunciated that the use of nuclear energy will not be considered an option at least until after 2022.

Reviving such a program will entail the need to examine a range of factors that include the location, safety and security of the nuclear power plant, transport of nuclear fuel, health and environmental impact, social acceptability and disposal of nuclear waste.

Extreme caution

The Philippine Network on Climate Change (PNCC) urges extreme caution on any decision to move forward with nuclear power. Such a move would go against the trend in the European Union, which has the highest level of political commitment in the world to deal with environmental and climate change issues.

Countries such as Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Spain have already decided to phase out their existing nuclear power projects. The trend is clear: European countries are replacing nuclear energy with other renewable energy sources. In 2007, the addition of wind power capacity in Europe totaled 8,504 megawatts (MW), while at the same time the net capacity of nuclear power decreased by 1,203 MW.

Even the new nuclear reactor in Finland, which is being touted by Delfin as a good model, has been mired in controversy throughout its ongoing construction phase. After three years of construction, the project is running two years behind schedule, leading to heavy economic losses. The builder has failed to meet safety standards and has therefore been heavily criticized by the Finnish nuclear safety authority.

In addition, the project’s financial arrangements are being investigated by the European Commission because of suspected illegal subsidies.

Alarm bells

Transitioning to nuclear power must trigger alarm bells for a host of reasons.

With the technology concentrated in the hands of a few foreign companies, mainly in Europe and the United Sates, and the inputs necessary to fuel nuclear power not being locally available, the Philippines would be locked in a dependency relationship with the supplier and would be at its mercy.

As getting out of the industry (decommissioning) would be even harder than getting in, the country would be vulnerable to the whims and dictates of the supplier.

Nuclear waste will remain dangerous for thousands of years and there is still no safe way to store it.

With regard to safety, an unanticipated environmental disaster similar to Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986 that affected at least 9 million people can never be ruled out. This bears serious consideration in the Philippines, being situated in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” which renders the country highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This is notwithstanding the country’s undeniable lack of capacity and resources to fully ensure its environmental soundness and safety.

In this era of heightened security, the existence of a nuclear facility will make the country an easy terrorist target. And if nuclear proliferation in North Korea and Iran were to be used as example, going nuclear would attract unwanted and unwarranted external scrutiny.

A nuclear power plant will never meet its capital and operational costs through the sale of energy. It will warrant huge subsidies that ultimately will have to be borne by the taxpayers. This case is worsened by allegations that the industry is not being transparent.

Renewable energy

Adding the external cost of nuclear power to the equation, considering its cost of potential environmental damage and adverse effects on human health, will far outweigh the projected economic benefits claimed by Delfin.

Irrespective of these concerns, how can nuclear power mitigate climate change? Even the International Energy Agency, in its World Energy Outlook 2007 report, suggested a small role for nuclear power in its “Alternative” scenarios section. In contrast, the report suggested a much larger role for renewable energy and energy efficiency, which, together, are expected to displace six to nine times more fossil fuel emissions than nuclear energy.

Cut fossil dependence

The Philippine government must then focus its efforts on the development and deployment of renewable energy (such as solar, wind, biomass and mini hydro) and energy efficiency (reducing consumption and demand) if it is truly serious about addressing the expected energy crunch in the country.

In its recent study, the University of the Philippines Solar Laboratory (UPSL), in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, emphasized the country’s huge renewable energy potential such as small hydro (2,308 MW), solar (4.7 to 5.4kWh/m2-day), wind (7,404 MW) and geothermal (4,000 MW).

Based on the “Power Switch” scenario established by this study, increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix will reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel such as coal and oil and will result in savings amounting to $2.3 billion over a 10-year period.

This strategy will also have the dual benefit of addressing climate change, thus reducing our country’s climate footprint, which is on the rise, and stepping forward to achieve the country’s self-sufficiency in energy.

In addition, PNCC cautions organizations and policymakers calling for a carbon tax as a means to address climate change. Such a tax will play into the hands of the nuclear industry and let it in via the back door. The alternative would be to push for an environmental tax instead.

Based on these considerations, nuclear energy is clearly neither an option nor an imperative for a nonfossil energy future. The PNCC, therefore, calls on the government to reject nuclear power as a potential source of energy for the Philippines. It should not unwittingly play into the hands of promoters of an industry whose main motivation, as some commentators have argued, may simply be to get rid of its obsolete technology.

(The Philippine Network on Climate Change is an alliance of nongovernment organizations involved in the advocacy of climate change and sustainable development issues. It is composed of Haribon Foundation, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan, Lingkod Tao Kalikasan, Miriam Peace, Mother Earth Foundation, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Soljuspax, Tanggol Kalikasan, Upholding Life and Nature and Yamog Renewable Energy Development Group. Established in 1992 after the Rio Earth Summit and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the network sits as member of the government’s Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change and the Steering Committee of the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.)

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It’s the most risky source of energy

Page A14

By Antonio M. Claparols
President, Ecological Society of the Philippines

NUCLEAR POWER is the most risky source of energy. Accidents such as the Chernobyl meltdown and the Three Mile Island are testaments to the risks involved.

Last year, even France, the leader in nuclear energy, had to restudy its energy policy because temperatures in the Loire river rose due to the nuclear plants there. This made the French Atomic authorities think twice.

The world can move on using renewable energy.

Those who ignore renewable energy just don’t want to change the oil-based infrastructure, which is hastening climate change.

Unmitigated climate change will destroy all of humankind and biodiversity.

Our planet will cease to sustain life. The symptoms are here and are felt all over. Our food and water sources and biodiversity are already suffering from the effects of climate change. Poverty is on the rise.

We are running out of food as we are feeding cars with biofuels. How many more countries will suffer from social unrest fueled by a worsening food crisis? Ours is one in the making.

Nuclear power is not the answer. Stop greenhouse gas emissions, go full scale on renewables. Stop logging and start planting trees. Have more carbon sinks and we will have enough food, water and a healthy ecology.

Plant organically and we fight poverty and climate change. No more monocrops for biofuels and certainly no nuclear plants.

Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What more now. No Nukes.

CANSEA Conference Workshop March 10-12,2008

CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK - SOUTHEAST ASIA (CANSEA) CONFERENCE-WORKSHOP
The Road from Bali: Crafting a Regional Action Agenda Towards Climate Justice and Sustainable Development
SEAMEO Innotech Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines March 10-12, 2008

In year 2002, the Climate Action Network International (CANI) held a back-to-back CAN Governance and Equity Summit with the objective of developing a sound organizational framework for CAN and of gaining better understanding of climate change and equity issues. The Summit yielded a draft governance paper outlining the appropriate organizational structure, systems and processes that will govern the network in the succeeding years. The Equity Summit focused on the different dimensions of equity i.e., the adequacy of commitments, allocation of costs associated with climate change, sustainable development policies and measures (SD-PAMS), adaptation and global justice. These discussions were helpful in providing a broad conceptual and analytical framework for examining the core issues of climate change and equity.

The past few years have been marked by advances in understanding the climate change issue from different perspectives-i.e., technical, scientific, social, economic and ecological, within the context of sustainable development. Since 2004, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released three reports of its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) which deal with the physical science basis of climate change, aspects of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation and mitigation issues. This IPCC report has unequivocally confirmed that climate change is real and poses serious threats to the economy, environment and the society, particularly the poor and vulnerable. It thus provides a firmer and more conclusive basis than ever before for taking strong and prompt actions and solutions to address the problem. Along with this development is the publication of the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework by Eco-Equity and Christian Aid, which offers a more elaborate climate protection framework designed to support an emergency climate stabilization program, while at the same time preserving the right of all citizens of the world to achieve sustainable human development and poverty reduction.

In this context, CANI, having been in the forefront in the advocacy of climate change issues at the global level, needs to take a proactive role towards making a positive contribution in development policy and practice at the global and national levels This then calls for further re-examination of its present overarching vision, direction and strategies and tactics. To achieve this, the importance of the role and contribution of CAN regional and national nodes based in developing countries to this process cannot be overemphasized.

For its part, through the funding support of Rockefellers Brothers Foundation and the Kiko Forum-Japan, the CAN Southeast Asia (CANSEA) had organized CANSEA Steering Committee meetings in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines for the period from 1998-2000. These activities somehow provided a mechanism for coordination and discussion of regional and national issues affecting the network at that time. It was also able to take part in the CANI Equity Summit held in Bali. However, in subsequent years, resource mobilization efforts of CANSEA did not bear fruit. Consequently, this situation also led to the weakening of the regional network, particularly some its national networks.

In CANI discussions during the just-concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Bali this December 2007, the role of CANSEA as a CAN regional node and the need for its revitalization and strengthening was recognized in the context of advancing climate change work in the region in general and in its potential contribution to the proposed CAN Summit, in particular. This conference-workshop provided the opportunity for CANSEA to respond to these imperatives.

Name of Participants and Organization
1. Atty. Ma. Ronelyn D. B. Sheen - Tanggol Kalikasan
2. Ms. Roslyn Arayata - PNCC
3. Garrie David - Presidential Task Force on Climate Change
4. Ramon Y. Dones - Department of Energy
5. Gurmit Singh - CETDEM 6. Raf Senga - WWF
7. Fitrian Ardiansyah - WWF-Indonesia
8. Yeb Sano - WWF- Philippines
9. Prof. Ma. Rosario G. Wood - Miriam Peace
10. Wanun Permpibul - REITF
11. Lot Felizco - OXFAM HK
12. Fritzielyn Palmiery - Tanggol Kalikasan (TK)
13. Helen N. Mendoza - SOLJUSPAX
14. Isagani Serrano - PRRM/Social Watch
15. Henriette Imelda - Yayasan Pelangi Indonesia
16. Erina Mursanti - IESR Indonesia
17. Nithi Nesadurai - EPSRA/MCCG
18. Leoncio Amadore - PAGASA
19. Letty G. Abella - ECCD-DOE
20. Hemantha Withanage -NGO Forum on the ADB
21. Sr. Ma. Aida M. Velasquez, OSB - LTK-PNCC
22. Neth Darion
23. Nonoy Cacayan - YAMOG-PNCC
24. Jun Sales - PRMM/PNCC 25. Mary Ann Mayo - PNCC 26. Atty. Ron Gutierrez -ULAN 28. Red Constantino - GRIPP 29. Neth Dano - TWN

National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation

National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation
Think Global Warming, Act Local Adaptation
October 22-24, 2007 Albay Astrodome
Legaspi City, Philippines

The first national conference on climate change adaptation was held in the province of Albay - known province to have been visited by extreme weather events. PNCC members participated in the different sectoral workshops.

(Left to right: first row -Dennis (Greenpeace) Ramon Faustino Sales Jr.(PRRM), Bechie De La Paz(Haribon), Sister Aida Jose (LTK), Governor Joey Salceda (Albay), Roslyn Arayata (PNCC-Secretariat), Inday Wood (Miriam-PEACE), Marie Marciano (Mother Earth Foundation) Helen Mendoza (SOLJUSPAX), second row: ____ Atty.Ron Guttierez (ULAN), Nonoy Cacayan (YAMOG), Roger___)

Support for the Call of Negrenes for Clean Energy and Rejection of a Coal-Fired Power Plant

PETITION OF SUPPORT FOR THE CALL OF THE NEGRENES FOR CLEAN AND INDIGENOUS ENERGY SOURCE AND REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY BY THE CENTRAL NEGROS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (CENECO) FROM A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT THAT KEPCO-SALCON POWER CORPORATION INTENDS TO BUILD IN CEBU CITY.

We the participants in the Bacolod conference-workshop on Climate Change organized by the Philippine Network on Climate Change (PNCC), an alliance of non-government organizations involved in the advocacy of climate change and sustainable development issues, express our full support to the rejection of the Negrenses of the proposed purchase of electricity by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) from a coal-fired power plant that Kepco-Salcon Power Corporation intends to build in Cebu City.

The life cycle of mined coal, from extraction to combustion, severely disrupts ecosystems, contaminates water supplies, emits noxious chemicals including mercury and provokes a multitude of serious health problems. But beyond coal’s obvious environmental impacts and threats to human health are the irreparably damaging effects of carbon dioxide emissions. Coal is the dominant source of global carbon dioxide emissions and thus, is the driving force behind global warming and climate change.

Increased use of coal will only push the warming of the Earth’s temperature, the impacts of which include crop failure, storm damage and ill health as brought by drought, floods, cyclones, mosquito pests, and water-borne disease which will become more frequent and intensive.

The Negrenses have already expressed their preference for renewable energy. This is recognized in the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy (RE) Policy where Negros Island is cited as a model for RE development and utilization. And this is established in the 2005 Provincial Environment Code of Negros Occidental.

We fully support the call of the Negrenses for CENECO to reject coal as an energy source and instead source its power requirements from the geothermal power plants located in Negros Island—the Northern Negros Geothermal Plant in Negros Occidental and Palinpinon Geothermal Plant in Negros Oriental.

We fully support the call of the Negrenses for a clean and indigenous energy source!

Singed this 27th day of November 2007 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philppines.

PNCC Statement on the 13th Conference of Parties

PNCC STATEMENT
on the
13th Conference of Parties (COP13)
Bali, Indonesia
December 3-14, 2007

As the distinguished Ministers and delegates to the 13th Conference of Parties (COP13) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 3rd Meeting of Parties (MOP3) under the Kyoto Protocol convene in Bali, Indonesia to resume talks on global climate change, the Philippine Network on Climate Change (PNCC), an alliance of non-governmental organizations engaged in the advocacy of climate change and sustainable development issues, enjoin the esteemed delegates to take decisive and prompt actions in the interest of building a safer climate and sustainable future for the whole humanity.

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed unequivocally that climate change is real and it is caused by human activity. It is incumbent upon the rich countries, which are primarily responsible for this problem, to take up the cudgels and demonstrate their commitment and accountability in combating this problem. No less than the succession of destructive disasters that claimed numerous people’s lives and wrought havoc on many poor and vulnerable communities and their livelihoods across the globe can attest to the pernicious effects of unmitigated climate change.

We believe that, in the context of sustainable development, the Bali Conference should forge a broad consensus among nations that would provide a clear road map on how to proceed reaching a post-Kyoto agreement in 2009. This should include a firm and binding targets and timetable for Annex I countries to take decisive action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help developing countries cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.

We urge the Philippine government, along with other developing countries, to support negotiations on a post-2012 agreement for a stronger climate regime that will obligate all Annex I Parties to further reduce their emissions by 80% by 2050 to demonstrate leadership and responsibility in the battle against climate change. In addition, we insist that negotiators support stronger mitigation and adaptation strategies, technology transfer and capacity building frameworks, together with adequate, accessible and predictable resources and financing for the majority countries as beneficiaries in order to achieve a carbon neutral regime in the future.

The post-2012 negotiations must address the need to:

• Establish a legally binding framework that will take into consideration the historical contributions of developed countries in taking responsibility in reducing their respective emissions and in taking obligation to fund adaptation measures in developing countries;

• Establish an Adaptation Protocol that will ensure equitable distribution of mitigation and adaptation funds, especially to the poorest and vulnerable countries and communities guided by principles that are clearly and accurately defined with adequate, predictable and reliable financial mechanisms;
o Funding research including risk and vulnerability assessments;
o Investing in climate-friendly technologies for mitigation and adaptation measures; and
o Funding capacity building of key local stakeholders, especially the poor and vulnerable including women.

• Fund mechanisms that will further mainstream communication on climate change and raise public awareness from regional to national and to local climate change efforts;

• Integrate mitigation and adaptation measures with sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies recognizing that conversion of remaining natural forests would contribute to increased GHG emissions and the deprivation of important ecological services that sustain life;

• Create a global market mechanism that will provide regional to national and to local communities eco-social-equitable benefit-sharing among stakeholders;

o Ensure the consistency of bio-energy projects with clear sustainability criteria such that they will not compromise food security, health, livelihoods, water resources and biodiversity conservation and will ensure equitable access to resources and sharing of benefits between the rich and the poor;
o Impose “polluter pays” principle;
o Prioritize nation’s self-sufficiency in engaging in trade;
o Explore the potential of voluntary carbon market that will deliver sustainable development benefits to local communities; and
o Review and enhance the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) framework
Efforts should: 1) ensure equitable distribution of CDM projects across all regions; 2) prioritize renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, small hydro, geothermal, over non-CO2 reducing projects; 3) Assess the viability of avoided deforestation including mangrove and marine protected areas as an eligible project under the CDM, which is considered as an equally effective way of sequestering carbon and empowering communities to optimize and manage their own resources towards poverty reduction and sustainable development; and 4) increase the attractiveness of small-scale, community-based projects that have great potential for delivering sustainable development benefits to local communities.

• Undertake a critical review of natural resource and waste management treaties between nations that blatantly violate such existing international treaties under the guise of genuine development cooperation; and

• Ensure active and sustained participation of civil society organizations in international negotiations and in all national and local policy and decision-making processes;

PNCC strongly opposes the development of nuclear power as part of any viable non-fossil energy future due to considerations of safety, nuclear waste disposal and decommissioning costs.

We cannot afford to delay actions to address the growing problem of climate change. Therefore, change should start within ourselves in the way we live and consume scarce resources by inculcating the right values that promote environmental integrity through resource conservation, simple lifestyle and consumption patterns in all government policies and programs, corporations and communities.

Let us not deprive our future generations their right to an equitable and sustainable future!

Directory of PNCC Members

Haribon Foundation
2F Santos and Sons Bldg.,
973 Aurora Blvd., Cubao
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel: (632) 911-6088/89
Fax: (632) 434 4696
E-mail: advocacy@haribon.org.ph
Website: www.haribon.org.ph
Contact Person: Ms. Ma. Belinda DE LA PAZ

Legal Rights & Natural Resources Center
Kasama sa Kalikasan (LRC-KSK)
Unit 329 Eagle Court Condominium
26 Matalino St.,
Central East District
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel (632) 928-1372 436-1101
Fax: (632) 920-7172
E-mail: lrcksk@info.com.ph
Website: www.info.com.ph/~lrcksk
Contact Person: Ms. Judy A. Pasimio

Lingkod Tao Kalikasan (LTK)
Caritas, Malate, Manila, PHILIPPINES
Tel/fax: (632) 563-9296
E-mail: ltkfi@yahoo.com
Contact Person: Sr. Ma. Aida M. Velasquez, OSB

Miriam Public Education & Awareness Campaign for the Environment (PEACE)
Miriam College, Katipunan Road, Diliman Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel: (632) 435-9240-46 local 217/ 920-5093
Fax: (632) 920-5093
E-mail: mwood@mc_edu.ph
Contact Person: Prof. Rosario WOOD

Mother Earth Foundation, (MEF) Inc.
2/F PhilDhrra Bdlg.,
59-C Salvador St.
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Tel: (632) 925-3829
Fax: (632) 434-5381
Email : marie@motherearth.ph
Website: www.motherearth.ph
Contact Person: Ms. Marie Marciano

Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) -PNCC Secretariat
56 Mother Ignacia St. cor Dr. Lazcano
Brgy. Paligsahan, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
e-mail: ramonfms@yahoo.com
Website: www.prrm.org
Tel. No. (632) 372-49-91/92 (Trunk lines) 372-2151 (Direct)
Fax: (632) 372-4995
Contact Person: Dr. Ramon Faustino M. Sales, Jr.

SOLJUSPAX/SOL JUSTITAE ET PAX
21 Apo Street, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel/fax : (632) 7317209
e-mail: hmendoza@info.com.ph
Contact Person: Dr. Helen Mendoza

Tanggol Kalikasan
Rm 403 CRM III Building
Kamias Road, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel: (632) 434-8734
Contact Person: Engr. Roberto Verzola

Upholding Life and Nature (ULAN)
Unit 201 TDS Bldg.,
72 Kamias Road, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel : (632) 927-7306
Fax : (632) 435-8102
Email: mail.ulan@gmail.com
Contact Person : Atty. Ronaldo R. Gutierrez

YAMOG Renewable Energy Development Center, Inc.
3F Rm 302 GB CAM Bldg. cor. Monteverde and Alvarez Sts.
Davao City 8000 PHILIPPINES
Tel/Fax: (082) 227-4031
Email: yamoginc@yahoo.com ncacayan@mozco.com
Contact Person: Engr. Nacario Cacayan

The Philippine Network on Climate Change

VISION

PNCC envisions a society that fosters social equity and a climate-friendly, sustainable economy characterized by simple lifestyle and consumption patterns for the benefit of both present and future generations.

MISSION

PNCC shall enhance the capacity of civil society organizations and local communities to mainstream and integrate climate change into the development process through demonstration projects, research, advocacy, networking and partnerships towards achieving poverty reduction, climate justice and sustainable development.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

To achieve the above vision and mission, PNCC will seek to pursue the following objectives: Goal In general, PNCC aims to build the awareness and capacity of civil society organizations and local communities to effectively engage key stakeholders- i.e., the government, corporate sector, the academe and other CSOs in developing and implementing climate change-sensitive development policies and plans supportive of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Specific Objectives

1. To undertake policy research and development on climate change, climate justice and sustainable development issues.

2. To engage the government and the corporate sector through lobby work and advocacy campaigns that link climate change, poverty reduction and sustainable development, at various levels-local, national, regional and international, towards influencing policy and practice;

3. To build a constituency through awareness raising and policy dialogues/ debates on climate change and sustainable development issues;

4. To help create mechanisms that enhance the participation of CSOs and other key stakeholders in decision-making and facilitate institutional cooperation, dialogue and sharing and exchange of information; and

5. To mobilize appropriate resources in support of the network’s projects and activities to ensure organizational and project sustainability.

SELECTED PROJECTS/INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN/INVOLVED

• Mapping of Climate Change Initiatives and Opportunities for Enhancing Civil Society Capacities in Addressing Climate Change in the Philippines, funded by Oxfam-Hongkong, August 2007-January 2008.

• Conversation on Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: Coping with Catastrophic Impacts of Climate Change: Issues and Challenges from the Philippine Perspective, in partnership with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), June 2007.

• Development of a Primer on Climate Change (Filipino version), in partnership with the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change (IACCC), 2007.

• Kamayan Forum para sa Kalikasan: Climate Change, sponsored by the Environment Broadcast Circle (EBC) and CLEAR. June, 2007.

• Why is it Getting Hotter?”: A Forum on Climate Change, St. Mary's College-Quezon City, 2006.

• Participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COPs)- COP4 (Argentina, 1998), COP5 and 6.5 (Germany, 1997, 2000), COP-6 (The Netherlands, 2000), COP-7 (Morocco, 2001), COP-8 (India, 2002), COP-9 (Milan, 2003), COP-10 (Buenos Aires, 2004) and COP-11 (Montreal, Canada, 2005); and other international conferences (Second International Workshop on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2007).

• Updating/Revision of Climate Change Primer, in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, 2003.

• Forum on Climate Change, MERALCO Theater, co-sponsored with Haribon Foundation, July 15, 2004

• Roundtable Discussion on CDM-Designated National Authority, co-sponsored with KLIMA, Manila Observatory, July 23, 2004

• Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly (YSDA) Forum, Silang, Cavite, July 31, 2004.

• National Consultation for NGOs on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), co-sponsored with Climate Change Information Center (CCIC), Ateneo de Manila University Manila Observatory, 2003.

• Southeast Asian Regional Conference on Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism, September 2003, co-sponsored with WWF.

• Roundtable Discussion on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), co-sponsored with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), 2002.

• Pre-COP 6 Conference of Climate Action Network Southeast Asia, October 28-30, 2000, Bahay Kalinaw, UP Campus, Quezon City, funded by KIKO Forum-Japan.

• PNCC Climate Change and Advocacy Project, funded by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)-U.S., 1999-2000.