by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan QUEZON CITY, July 5 (PIA) -- A senior government technical expert from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) on Tuesday expressed optimism that greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines may be eased and reduced significantly in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. In today's edition of Talking Points broadcast live over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan 738 kHz, DENR's Office of Climate Change chief executive director Albert Magalang remained confident in saying that through government's eco-friendly initiatives and active involvement by the private sector, the country can contribute in easing the effects of climate change. Magalang said companies that burn fossil fuels, like coal and gasoline, generally contributed to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, he said that despite this predicament, "the emission of these greenhouse gases, we can say, can be controlled." He cited methane, another greenhouse gas produced in open dumpsites can be minimized if local government units would strictly implement garbage segregation and recycling. He said to achieve emission reduction, the key is to involve also the private sector by providing them with incentives. "Basically, we have to involve the private sector and involve investors in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and those which will give them carbon credits and other initiatives," he said. A greenhouse gas is a gas in the atmosphere, more particularly carbon dioxide, that absorbs and emits the heat from sunlight, which is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect or global warming. Meanwhile, a "carbon credit" is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one ton or 2000 pounds (0.907 metric ton or 907.18 kilograms) of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent or equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide. Carbon credit is used to promote the exploration and development of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. The CDM, on the other hand, is a market-based system provided under the Kyoto Protocol designed to assist and encourage countries to implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under the CDM, companies in the country can earn carbon credits by implementing energy efficient and renewable energy projects. These credits can be exchanged for cash in international markets at prevailing market prices. Because of these incentives, more companies are expected to venture into CDM projects to take advantage of the tax breaks and other perks available to renewable energy projects, Magalang said. (RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

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