DUMAGUETE CITY – Renewable sources of energy are becoming “increasingly competitive” even as countries continue to face different challenges of sustainable growth, United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Robert Pruce said.
The envoy concluded Tuesday afternoon his two-day visit to Dumaguete City and the province of Negros Oriental as part of his country’s Great British Festival celebration from Feb. 13 to March 10.
When asked to comment about the UK’s target reduction of gas emissions, Ambassador Pruce replied: “The UK is actually making good progress in reducing our reliance on coal, on carbon.”
“In the past 12 months or so we have actually been able to generate our power needs through renewable sources,” he disclosed.
However, “this takes time and it is a continuing process,” Pruce told reporters, adding that “this is a challenge which no single country cannot address on its own.”
Emphasizing that he can only “speak from his experience in the UK” on renewable energy, he underscored that “the question of choice between renewables and coal becomes the choices based (on) sustainability rather than cost.”
“We’re seeing renewable power is becoming increasingly competitive in the UK and is a significant part of our energy mix,” he pointed out.
Asked how the Philippines as a partner country can learn from the UK on the latter’s “Clean Growth Strategy” in addressing climate change, the British envoy replied that climate change is an “international priority.”
“It’s an area where the global community has been working together for some years now,” he said.
According to Pruce, the UK was delighted when “the agreement was achieved in Paris (during) international peace negotiations there”, referring to the agreement that aims to strengthen the global response to the threat posed by climate change.
“And the (UK) government is committed to engaging with partner countries, such as the Philippines and a wider international community to address climate change and in particular to face these very many real challenges these countries face around driving economic growth and doing so in a sustainable way,” the diplomat assured.
Pruce noted that over the years, the United Kingdom has built up on sustainable energy, resources, such as wave power, solar power, and wind power.
“We are very, very eager to work with partner countries such as the Philippines to share expertise and achieve this vision of sustainable growth in the future, not just for our future but for future generations that come after us,” he said.
The British envoy, over his two-day visit here, spoke about his country’s partnership with the Philippines, particularly on the academe and other programs, during a talk at Silliman University, and in a meeting with Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, Dauin Mayor Neil Credo, and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Pruce said his first visit here months back was memorable because it was a social visit and he was able to go to the world-famous dive destination, Apo Island in Dauin, and went snorkeling with the turtles.
He promised to promote Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental as tourism destinations. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
