Net zero: Ambition without architecture in the Philippines

Net zero has become one of the most frequently invoked phrases in sustainability conversations, from annual reports and investor briefings to policy forums and business conferences.

- RON F. JABAL

In the Philippines, however, it occupies an uneasy space. It is neither rejected nor fully embraced. It is spoken of with confidence, pursued selectively, and yet never formally owned as a national destination.From a sustainability lens, the question is no longer whether net zero is desirable. That debate has largely passed. The more pressing question is whether the Philippines has built the architecture required to turn ambition into action.

At present, net zero in the Philippines is possible in theory, constrained in practice, and deferred in policy.

The technical foundations are stronger than critics often assume. The country has substantial renewable energy potential, particularly in solar and wind, complemented by hydro resources and rapidly maturing battery energy storage systems. Over the past few years, private capital has flowed into utility scale solar farms, wind corridors, and storage projects. These investments are not ideological experiments. They are rational responses to volatile fossil fuel prices, rising import dependence, and growing demand for cleaner power from corporate buyers.

From a purely technical standpoint, decarbonizing large portions of the power sector by mid-century is achievable. Add to this the Philippines' natural advantage in forests, mangroves, and coastal ecosystems, and the ingredients of a net zero pathway clearly exist.

But sustainability is never just about technical feasibility. It is about systems, incentives, and governance.

This is where the Philippine challenge becomes clear.