Press Release
April 15, 2009

Loren urges gov't to support use of low-carbon goods

Senator Loren Legarda yesterday urged the government to take the lead role in mitigating the effects of climate change by supporting the use of low-carbon goods.

"The government itself must support the use of low-carbon goods. Public procurement must consciously take into account environmental considerations and this should illustrate the feasibility of this practice to the private sector," she told her colleagues in privileged speech.

Low-carbon goods are those which are produced with the least carbon dioxide or greenhouse emissions that induce climate change.

Loren, who is chair of the Senate sub-committee on climate change, also said that investments in low-carbon goods must be encouraged by pledging the government's long-term commitment to the climate change agenda.

"We must assure the business community that our present focus on climate change is not a momentary fascination but a firm policy agenda," she explained.

In order to achieve these goals, Loren said demand for low-carbon goods must first be created.

"There is a perception that environment-friendly goods cost more, which discourages consumers from patronizing such goods," she noted, "but this can be remedied by changing the price patterns."

She said goods with negative environmental impacts should be priced higher, and that this can be done through direct of indirect pricing.

By direct pricing, she meant imposition of taxes and duties while indirect pricing would mean adoption of standards such as energy efficiency, air quality, emission limits, or chemical content, non-compliance with which would translate to higher pricing.

On the other hand, incentives must be given to producers and suppliers of low-carbon goods.

She stressed though that information dissemination must be intensified in order to educate both the leaders and people.

"It is only through our common understanding and joint efforts that we can transform our lifestyle," she said.

"Filipinos deserve to live in a beautiful country and we have indigenous and local resources to see us through even in global economic meltdown and climate change," she said, adding that low-carbon lifestyle is pro-poor, and contributes to the sustainability of the Philippine islands and planet earth.

Low-carbon lifestyle is the conscious effort by individuals and communities to change their daily routine and practices to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to create carbon dioxide sinks.

Loren cited at least seven energy-related areas for limiting the use of carbon energy. These are "food choices," "mode of transportation," "energy use," "waste management," "housing design and materials," "water consumption"and"creation of carbon sinks."

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