The Philippines should have a carbon neutral goal

Believe it or not, the Philippines is the only country in the ASEAN that has not yet set a formal carbon neutrality or net-zero target. Yes, you heard that right. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and even Indonesia have set their own timelines. Only the Philippines stands out for its absence.

What happened to us? And why has this happened? Who has been negligent? Is it the Congress? Is it the Executive Branch? Or perhaps the DOE and the Climate Change Commission? Has our mass media also overlooked this? And what about social media, with its legions of bloggers and influencers—have they been silent too? Could it be that even civil society has also overlooked this crucial matter?

The absence of a net-zero goal is not a minor oversight. It reflects something deeper—that the urgency of climate action has not yet fully entered our collective consciousness. This is very important to us now, and even more so for our children in the future.

Let’s look at our ASEAN neighbors. Most of them have committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. Thailand set its goal as 2065. Indonesia pushed its target to 2060. But all of them have declared a target year. And the Philippines? None. Not even a hint of a target.

So, should we set our goal at 2070, since we are already so late? Do you think 45 years is enough time to get there? Should we be less ambitious than Thailand, which at least has the advantage of rallying behind their King? Could it be that we have failed to muster political will, wasting our energies on endless political bickering between so many interests?

This is not supposed to be a partisan issue. Having a net-zero goal is so important that it should go beyond political lines. It should be part of our national vision, not our political debates.

But what does the record show? What have the succession of DOE secretaries done to propose or adopt these goals? If there were already recommendations, why did they fail? Could it be that powerful lobby groups are working against net-zero commitments? If so, who are they? Are we talking about coal, oil, and gas interests?

On the other hand, what are we doing to generate more energy from alternative sources? From wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biogas? What about other biofuels such as those from coconut and nipa palm? These are resources we already have in abundance. Why aren’t we scaling them up?

Where is the coordination between DOE, DENR, DA, and DOST? Shouldn’t they be working together on a roadmap toward a net zero goal? Is this not a top priority in the agenda of the Cabinet, of Congress, and even of the LEDAC?

As of today, the Philippines has committed to reducing emissions by 75% by 2030 under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). But here is the catch: 72% of that commitment is conditional, meaning it depends on international support such as climate finance and technology transfer. Only 2.71% is unconditional, meaning we will do it with our own resources. In other words, we are waiting for the rest of the world to help us before we act decisively.

This is not good enough. We are one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Every year, stronger typhoons and floods wipe out billions of pesos in damage. Every year, our farmers and fisherfolk bear the brunt of climate change. If any country has the moral high ground to act urgently, it is us.

So why are we not declaring a net-zero year target? Even if it is aspirational, it signals intent. It rallies government, business, and communities around a common timeline. It sends a message to the international community that we are serious, and it helps us access climate finance more effectively.

If Indonesia, so dependent on coal, can aim for 2060, why can’t we? If Vietnam, with its massive industrial growth, can commit to 2050, why can’t we?

The truth is simple: the Philippines should already have a carbon-neutral or net-zero goal. It should be part of our laws. It should be part of our national consciousness. It should be part of our children’s future.

The challenge is not technical—it is political. And until we muster the political will to rise above lobby groups and short-term interests, we will continue to be behind our neighbors, to our own peril.

So, here is my suggestion: Congress should declare a national net-zero target year by law. The DOE should draft a roadmap with inputs from DENR, DA, and DOST. The President should make it a priority agenda. And civil society, the media, and yes—even social media—should push this issue into the national conversation.

Because if we cannot even set a goal, how can we ever hope to reach it?