It Just Got Harder to Build Coal Plants in The Philippines
- New environment secretary ‘not keen’ on permitting coal plants
- Coal accounted for 45% of country’s power output in 2015
Thousands of environment, civic, social and religious groups and anti-coal activists attend the mass climate march demanding the cancellation of proposed coal power plants in the Philippines. The Philippines’ new environment secretary will prioritize renewable energy over fossil fuels like coal in approving permits for new power plants.
Photographer: Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Philippines’ new environment secretary will prioritize renewable energy over fossil fuels like coal in approving permits for new power plants.
Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economy should build wind, solar and geothermal projects to capitalize on falling costs and minimize emissions, Gina Lopez, named Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources by President Rodrigo Duterte last month, said in an interview in her office Thursday. Lopez said her family’s ties to renewable energy companies don’t affect her views.