Mobilizing for energy transition: Tactics from localized anti-coal
movement in central Philippines
Abstract
Developing countries need sufficient, reliable, and affordable energy
for economic development; yet, the source of this energy remains
contested. In the Philippines, coal-based electricity supplies most of
the country’s energy requirement; hence contravening the country’s
energy transition agenda. Until the moratorium on new coal-fired power
plant development in October 2020, the Philippine government
aggressively pursued the development of the coal sector, labelling coal
projects as nationally significant. With this policy direction, many
local governments, including provinces and cities, had rallied around
coal. Dissent against coal, nonetheless, was also prominent, with civil
society often leading these mobilizations, and using the narrative of
energy transition in their appeals. This poster describes one of these
movements, focusing on civil society-business-and-ecclesial-led dissent
on coal-based energy system for the province of Bohol in central
Philippines. Using primary data from interviews and site observation,
supplemented by social media and secondary data analysis, this poster
describes the tactics of a localized, yet networked, anti-coal
mobilisation while pursuing an energy transition agenda. Led by a
trifecta of actors, including private citizens, businesspeople, and the
clergy, the movement employed nonviolent approaches through
network-building, letter-writing, and social media-campaigning. As a
result, the provincial government of Bohol issued an ordinance banning
future coal-based development in the province and resituating the energy
transition agenda in local development.