The Philippines remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels for its power and energy needs. Fossil fuels also happen to be the main drivers of the climate crisis. Although the country contributes only 0.3 percent of carbon emissions globally, the reliance on coal and fossil gas continues to generate negative and increasingly serious impacts on the daily lives of Filipinos in terms of harm to the economy and human health. Continuous burning of fossil fuels results in air pollution, where long-term exposure can increase the risk of developing illnesses such as asthma, lung cancer, and stroke.

A power sector regime of planned and unforced shutdowns of new and old coal-fired power plants – with some of the newer power stations remaining offline for eight months and counting – has led to persistent blackouts and spiking power costs. The suffering of countless Filipino households and businesses still coping with the brutal effects of the pandemic has been made more tenuous and fragile because of the outages and astronomical electricity bills.

Yet the other side of this narrative coin might be just as, if not even more compelling.

Inherent in the energy transition are stories of positive disruption that have so far gone unreported. While there are reports on solar farms and the solarization of shopping malls, there are fewer stories on the workers, cooperatives, and financers involved in other renewable energy sources, batteries, and storage plants. Other stories that could be further explored include efforts of households to become energy efficient; challenges faced by communities and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in shifting to renewable energy options, and how integral sectors, such as farmers and fisherfolk, can benefit from and take part in the country’s path to climate resilience and transition to low-carbon development.

With all these interesting angles and approaches to storytelling, the Jaime Espina Klima Correspondents Fellowship is a timely opportunity for journalists to reframe approaches to prevailing climate and energy narratives.

The Fellowship pays tribute to the late Jose Jaime “Nonoy” Espina, a dedicated Filipino journalist, unionist, and an advocate for press freedom and human rights. Known for his courage and in championing the freedom of the press and the welfare of media workers.

Espina served as chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) from 2018 to 2021. A founding member of the union, Espina had been involved in various initiatives and campaigns advocating and defending the rights of media workers, particularly in challenging political climates.

He was vocal and passionate too about environmental and climate issues and amplified the voices of communities affected by adverse effects. His legacy lives on through the many journalists he mentored and the initiatives he championed, including projects aiming to deepen the understanding of climate and social issues in the Philippines. His legacy lives on through the many journalists he mentored and the initiatives he championed.