The environment versus economy
In the 1980s, scientists have discovered that Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) has been responsible to the thinning of the ozone layer. The whole planet was united in decreasing the amount of CFC in the atmosphere in hopes to save the ozone layer. The planet found ways to substitute hairsprays and refrigerants by introducing products that doesn’t produce Chlorofluorocarbons.
So you may ask how was it possible for countries in the planet to unite to solve the catastrophic effects of losing the ozone layer. It is quite simple. Countries could afford not using CFC and finding safer products substitute to products to produce CFC. So why can’t we do it know?
Countries specially developing ones are still dependent on coal mining to produce electricity. Non-polluting and renewable technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal are way too costly. Not all countries could afford to purchase this type of energy source. Some countries still have a lot of coal supply and use it as a primary source of electric power. Selling coal is profitable to some countries. Coal mines is one of the biggest causes of the increase of Greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are the cause of increasing temperature of the planet.
Before the May 2010 elections, the country had several outages due to the low supply of electric power. In Mindanao, the biggest source of electricity is hydro- electric plant. But since the drought was still plaguing the country then, government officials had to find a remedy to the power crisis. I know it easy to say that we should stop using coal mines right away since I am not in the position to make decisions. But it wouldn’t hurt if government would think about the alternative source of electricity.
So does it come down to which energy source is cheaper? Do we have to think about the economy before considering the effects of global warming? The Philippines have been struck by powerful storms last year and this year we face a drought like no other drought that we have encountered. The planet is in a really bad shape. We should move now while there is still a chance to reverse the effects of Global warming.
I know that it is hard to stop using coal mines right away but it would be better to start putting up non-polluting power source slowly. Putting up facilities for renewable energy one at a time seems like a reasonable course of action.
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