Shell backs climate change initiative

MANILA, Philippines – Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP) country chairman Edgar Chua joined major players from the business sector and non-government organisations (NGOs) in spearheading a project called “The Philippine Imperative”, which draws up a roadmap of solutions with adaptation and mitigation strategies to complement the efforts of the local and national government in combating the effects of climate change in the Philippines. The Philippine Imperative project was launched in response to the impending effects of global warming in the archipelago.

Currently, the country ranks fourth in the Global Climate Risk Index, with 15 of its 16 regions susceptible to sea level rise. Among the expected impacts of global warming in the Philippines will be severe drought in Western Mindanao, a major agricultural region, and increased rainfall in Central Luzon, the country’s rice bowl.

The Philippine Imperative project aims to drive the urgency of addressing climate change in both the private and public sector to find immediate solutions, especially to the large-scale problems that accompany global warming, ranging from poverty to the detrimental effect on the country’s biodiversity heritage.

Representing the energy sector, Chua served as a co-convenor of the Philippine Imperative project, which is spearheaded by former Bukidnon Rep. and principal author of the Clean Air Act Nereus Acosta, Ph. D., former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun, World Wildlife Fund Philippines chief executive Officer Lorry Tan, pagbabago@pilipinas president Bart Guingona, and climate expert Fr. Jett Villarin

As early as the 1990s, Shell has already recognized the threat of climate change and has set voluntary targets for reducing its own carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Improvements at Shell’s downstream facilities are already delivering CO2 emissions reduction of about one million tons per annum (mtpa) globally. Similarly, Shell has adopted new investment benchmarks that will ensure that cost effective CO2 management options are considered in all its investments.

Shell steps up its advocacy in helping address and find solutions for climate change by working with various government agencies, the private sector, educational institutions, and NGOs. Shell recently participated in the Philippine Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting and Reporting Program (PhilGARP) to promote discussions on GHG management issues. Currently a member of the Philippine Presidential Task Force on Climate Change chaired by the Energy Secretary, Shell is also working with the government in advocating for more effective CO2 regulation.

Shell also develops technologies needed to reduce CO2 emissions from our products. We help our customers to produce lower CO2 electricity by providing more natural gas. As one of the largest providers of transport fuels, we are also committed to helping drivers use less energy and reduce emissions with advanced fuels and lubricants; leading the search for better biofuels; and promoting government policies to reduce CO2 emissions from transport.

“In Shell, we believe in developing new supplies for the future and looking at how we can reduce our own emissions in our operations, whether it be in exploration, in refining, or marketing,” said Chua. –Philippine Star