PH urged to follow EU’s green economy strategy

THE Philippines can do what the European Union envisioned for itself seven years from now as detailed in the Europe 2020 strategy—to become a green economy by 2020.

Dr. Julian Vassallo, European Union delegation to the Philippines deputy head of political section, said that the European experience would provide useful examples for the Philippines to replicate.

Vasallo was one of the speakers during last Wednesday’s Eko Conference held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.

According to Vassallo, the transition to a green economy is a challenge that all countries face across the world.

“So how is the concept of green growth addressed in the European Union? Answers to that question can be found in Europe 2020, a key document launched by the European Commission in March 2010,” he said.

The document, according to Vassallo, sets out concrete targets to be achieved within the next decade in areas such as employment, education, energy and innovation to overcome impact of financial crisis and put Europe back on track for economic growth.

“One priority we have identified is energy efficiency which is a key element of any sustainable growth strategy. Our goal is to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020,” Vassallo said.

To achieve the goal, the EU has recently adopted an Energy Efficiency Directive which includes energy distributors to save 1.5 percent of their energy sales through the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

Another priority is climate change mitigation through reduced carbon footprint.

“Transition to low carbon emission, 20 percent reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels with a longterm objective of finding ourselves at least 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050,” he said.

The climate change package of the EU includes several important, complementary pieces of legislation which includes a carbon emission trading system, renewable energy targets and a legal framework for the development of carbon capture technologies.

While emission reduction and energy efficiency are often seen as challenges, Vassallo said, that they see opportunities resulting from these agenda; thus can be an engine for growth in Europe.

“Meeting 20 percent of Europe’s energy needs from renewable sources for instance could create over 600,000 jobs and an additional 400,000 jobs in the EU when they meet its 20 percent lower energy efficiency target,” he said.

EU’s core environmental industries active in the fields of pollution management and control, waste collection and treatment, renewable energy and recycling already have a combined turnover of over 3 billion euro “which is almost twice the GDP (gross domestic product) of a country like the Philippines, providing nearly 3.5 million jobs.”

The sector according to Vassallo is growing at an annual rate of over 8 percent in a global market predicted to reach four trillion euro by 2015.

SMART Cebu

“With that example, Europe’s ambition to shift towards a more sustainable and green economy is therefore a reality and can be done in the Philippines,” Vassallo said.

With the country’s development plan slanted towards sustainable development, EU has partnered with the Philippines for a program called SWITCH Asia with an estimated assistance amounting to P500 billion supporting small enterprises to rely on renewable energy and adopting green processes into their business,” he said.

SMART Cebu or Small and Medium Enterprises Accountability Resposibility and Transparency project is implemented by the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines working with Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF), Cebu Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME) and Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares Foundation (GTH).