Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Samar’s capital presents tidal energy plan in Korea climate change forum

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 5 (PNA) - The city government here presented one of the major planned projects in the Seoul Mayors Forum on Climate Change 2016.

“My big appreciation to International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and Seoul City Government for this opportunity given to me and the city to showcase one of the big projects that we will be undertaking within the Maqueda and Irong Irong Bays of Catbalogan,” Uy-Tan said in a mobile phone interview.

Participating in the forum held on Sept. 1 to 2 in Seoul, South Korea were mayors from 40 cities in the world, including 19 mayors and deputy mayors headed by Seoul Mayor Park Won Soon.

The mayor of Samar’s capital discussed future adoption of the city on an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) by pioneering tidal energy power generation in the Philippines.

In a statement, the mayor explained that tidal energy or tidal power is described as a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into electricity. Special buoys, turbines, and other technologies capture the power of waves and tides and convert it into clean, and pollution-free electricity.

Most common technology for tidal energy today, according to Uy-Tan, can be classified into three main categories: In-Stream Devices that use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, in a similar way as windmills use moving air; Barrages an structure like a dams across the full width of a tidal estuary – or the mouth of a river that has a free-flowing connection to the ocean and Tidal lagoons is similar to barrages but can be constructed as self-contained structures not extending fully across an estuary.

The project can also be used to make the local fishing industry more vibrant and address problem on over fishing by eco-system approach.

“Why eco-system approach? Because it’s integrated approach allows trade on balancing human and ecological well-being. It allows to a more effective planning and it increase stakeholder’s participation,” Uy-Tan explained during the presentation.

The project will also allow ordinary fishermen and residents of Catbalogan to venture to aqua-culture that has lesser carbon footprint unlike other livelihood such as livestock production.

“This will result for economic growth of those who belong to the marginalize sector, ensure food security and promote mariculture to fisher folks and not just to promote renewable energy,” the mayor explained.

The Seoul Mayors Forum on Climate Change 2016 highlighted many ways in which cities can scale up their ambitions, such as through sustainable procurement, according to ICLEI website.

Seoul launched the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement in partnership with ICLEI to create a worldwide network of leading cities using this direct and practical tool to tackle climate change.

The event also serve as a tool to pressure national governments to move quickly on ratifying the Paris Agreement at COP21 that signed last year where the Philippines is one of the signatories. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

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