Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has bared plans to launch a sustainable action plan that would serve as the backbone of “Green Capitalism” this September.

NEDA is working with the Asian Development Bank in formulating the Sustainable Consumption and Production Framework and Action Plan

The concept of Green Capitalism, he explained, is making profit-maximization and environmental protection go hand-in-hand, and in certain cases, complementary to each other

At the recent Forum on Renewable Energy and Waste-to-Energy Public-Private Partnership, Pernia disclosed that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) is working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in formulating the Sustainable Consumption and Production Framework and Action Plan.

This would complement the guide for local government units that covers all phases of solid waste management project cycle. The guide was drafted by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, together with the DENR Environmental Management Bureau-Solid Waste Management Division.

The plan is also projected to provide an outline of the national solid waste management strategy.

Pernia, who is also NEDA’s Director-General, called on both public and private company stakeholders to further expand their role in developing innovative solutions in implementing and integrating renewable energy and waste-to-energy components in infrastructure and development projects.

“This is possible since the majority of the waste we produce is biodegradable at around 52 percent and recyclable at 28 percent. With the right push, the country can still further reduce the amount of solid waste it generates,” Pernia said.

While meeting the power demand is a vital factor to sustain economic growth, finding ways to grow without compromising the environment and draining our natural resources is equally important, he noted.

Citing the latest data on the Philippines ‘ demand for energy, the country’s dependable energy supply stood at 21,241 megawatts while the total peak demand was at 14,782 MW in 2018.

From 2014 to 2018, the country’s total energy consumption rose at an average of 4.22 percent per year. Under a high economic growth state, the country’s energy requirement is seen to increase four-fold by 2040 by an average of 5.7 percent yearly.

Meanwhile, the National Solid Waste Management Commission said that it was in 2016 when the country generated about 40,000 tons of waste per day. Of that total, Metro Manila cornered 9,000 tons.

On the other hand, renewable energy and natural gas account for the majority of the country’s primary energy supply mix stood at 39.1 percent in 2017. Pernia noted that while this has been decreasing in the past five years, the government has institutionalized policies and programs that will help offshoot the consumption of renewable energies.