In Pasuquin, Philippines, a fisherman spreads a sheet of gamet, a rare seaweed, on a bamboo mat on the beach under the intense midday sun. He wears a wide straw hat for protection from the heat, tucking his legs to prevent sunburn. The burgeoning clean energy boom in the region, a stronghold of the Marcos family, is creating apprehension among local fishing and Indigenous communities.
These communities, deeply connected to the coastal environment, are expressing wariness about the scale and implications of the new energy projects. The focus on renewable energy sources, while globally promoted for its environmental benefits, is prompting local stakeholders to consider its potential on-the-ground effects. Their concerns revolve around how these developments might alter the delicate balance of their ecosystems and impact their traditional ways of life, which are intrinsically linked to the sea and the land.
Source: Mongabay