PH Business Leaders Call for Faster Shift to Net Zero Amid Climate, Energy Risks

Posted on September 15, 2026 at 3:17 pm

PASAY CITY, Philippines — The Philippines cannot afford to treat the shift to a low-carbon economy as a long-term environmental ambition as climate risks grow and uncertainty continues to hang over global energy supplies, business leaders said Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

The message came during the Philippine Net Zero Conference 2026 in Pasay City, where companies, policymakers, and sustainability advocates gathered to discuss how businesses can move from climate commitments to concrete action.

The two-day conference, organized by the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) and First Gen Group, in partnership with the Southeast Asia Decarbonization Exchange (CDx), carries the theme, “Bridging Gaps, Advancing Net Zero: Radical Collaboration in a Fragmenting World.”

The gathering takes place against a difficult global backdrop. Climate models indicate that the world is on track to exceed the critical 1.5°C warming threshold, while continuing conflicts in the Middle East are adding to concerns over global energy security and the potential for further volatility in fossil-fuel prices.

For the Philippines, the risks are particularly significant. The country is highly vulnerable to climate change and remains exposed to movements in global energy markets.

Against this backdrop, NZCA Executive Director Allan Barcena said achieving net-zero emissions should be seen as a form of protection for the country and its businesses.

“For a highly climate-vulnerable nation like the Philippines, achieving net zero emissions remains an indispensable shield, no longer just an environmental ideal but a structural economic blueprint that ensures independent clean energy, long-term enterprise survival, and protection from volatile global fossil fuel prices,” Barcena said.

His statement reflects the central message of the conference: decarbonization is no longer simply about reducing emissions. It is also about helping Philippine businesses become more resilient to energy shocks and the economic consequences of a changing climate.

The conference is focused on building an actionable net-zero platform covering energy financing, policy, technology, and supply chains. Organizers said these areas must work together if companies are to turn climate targets into investments and solutions that benefit their bottom lines while contributing to national climate goals.

The urgency is also underscored by the United Nations Environment Programme’s latest “overshoot, peak, and decline” pathway, which calls for rapid emissions reductions even as global temperatures move beyond the 1.5°C level.

NZCA marks fifth year

The conference also marks the fifth anniversary of the Net Zero Carbon Alliance, which was established in 2021 by First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC) to help Philippine organizations move toward a decarbonized and regenerative future.

Five years later, the coalition is expanding its network.

NZCA announced eight new partner-members during the conference: Enderun Colleges, Eton Properties Philippines Inc., International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), Instep Carbon and Sustainability, MacroAsia Corporation, Philippine Airlines, Philippine Trade Training Center, and Universidad de Zamboanga.

The additions bring the alliance’s membership to 50 organizations from different sectors, highlighting the growing participation of the private sector in the country’s net-zero transition.

Turning targets into action

The conference agenda goes beyond broad climate commitments, focusing on some of the practical challenges businesses face as they attempt to reduce their emissions.

Sessions cover climate governance, mandatory sustainability disclosures, carbon tracking, and climate finance, while other discussions look at technologies that companies can already use in their operations.

Among those being showcased are artificial intelligence, smart energy systems, carbon management software, and science-based verification.

The conference will also feature a five-year accomplishment report of the NZCA and the presentation of the country’s first Net Zero Champions Awards, recognizing organizations that have taken concrete steps toward climate action.

For Philippine companies, the discussions come at a time when climate change and energy security are becoming increasingly difficult to separate from business strategy.

Extreme weather can disrupt operations and supply chains, while sudden movements in global fossil-fuel prices can raise costs. Reducing dependence on volatile energy sources, therefore, can offer businesses another layer of protection.

That is why the conference is calling for closer cooperation among the private sector, government, financial institutions, and technology providers.

The goal, organizers said, is to close the gap between ambition and implementation and make the country’s net-zero transition practical, measurable, and economically sustainable.

For a country as vulnerable to climate change as the Philippines, the challenge is no longer simply setting emissions targets. It is finding ways to make the transition work for businesses, communities, and the wider economy before the costs of inaction become even greater.

Photos by: Jazmin Bonifacio | The Vanguard