(Photo by PNA)
MANILA – The Philippine government and United Nations (UN) officials called for stronger regional cooperation, increased climate financing and faster renewable energy development to strengthen energy security and address climate change across Asia.
Speaking at the inaugural Accelerating Clean Transitions in Asia (Asia ACT) Forum on Friday, October 9, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Lualhati Dorotan Tiuseco emphasized the need to translate climate commitments into concrete projects that benefit communities.
“What we need now is clear execution and delivery of our promises into real progress and sustainability that they can feel,” Tiuseco said.
She said the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, generate employment and protect communities from climate-related risks.
The government targets a 35-percent renewable energy share in the country’s power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
To achieve these goals, Tiuseco highlighted policies allowing full foreign ownership of renewable energy projects, streamlined permitting through the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop and investments under the Green Energy Option Program.
She said the government is also upgrading the electricity grid to accommodate energy storage systems, emerging technologies and electric mobility.
However, she acknowledged that financing limitations and regulatory challenges continue to slow renewable energy development.
“We need to turn ambition into concrete, bankable projects that investors can support,” Tiuseco said.
She also stressed the importance of strengthening local government capabilities, attracting private investments and providing skills training to ensure workers and communities benefit from the energy transition.
Tiuseco cited discussions on nearly Php 2 billion in additional funding for solar irrigation projects this year, emphasizing the need to equip farmers and other workers with renewable energy skills.
“My dear friends, we cannot ask people to embrace change while leaving them uncertain about how they will earn a living,” she said.
UN warns of energy security risks
UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Arnaud Peral underscored the country’s vulnerability to global fuel supply disruptions due to its heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels.
He said more than 97 percent of Philippine crude oil imports in 2025 came from the Middle East, exposing consumers and businesses to fluctuations in international energy markets.
“That experience made one thing very clear: energy security and climate action are not two agendas. They are just one,” Peral said.
According to Peral, renewable energy accounted for approximately 25 percent of the Philippines’ electricity generation mix by the end of 2025, up from 22 percent.
He said green energy auctions have awarded more than 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, with additional projects planned through 2035.
Peral also welcomed the Philippines’ updated 2026 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which maintains a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Under the updated commitment, the country’s unconditional contribution increased to 7 percent, while the remaining 68 percent depends on international assistance.
“A conditional target is a promise made by the whole international community, not by the Philippines alone,” he said.
Peral said 11 UN agencies, funds and programs are supporting the Philippine government’s energy security and climate initiatives.
Among these is the United Nations Office for Project Services, which is assisting in developing offshore wind permitting and licensing frameworks that could unlock up to 19 gigawatts of generating capacity.
Other initiatives include smart grid development, energy storage assessments, electricity market reforms and industrial energy efficiency programs.
UN-supported projects also cover solar-powered housing for Sama-Bajau families in Surigao, hybrid solar systems for health facilities in Aurora and sustainable energy planning in the Bangsamoro region.
Peral said the UN remains committed to helping the Philippines secure climate financing, develop investment-ready projects and strengthen accountability in implementing climate programs.
“A just and inclusive energy transition is more than a climate goal. It means affordable, reliable power. Good jobs and a future that leaves no one behind,” he said.
Regional cooperation crucial
Meanwhile, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Programmes Coordination Senior Director Daniele Violetti urged Asian countries to align their climate commitments with national energy policies and accelerate investments in clean energy infrastructure.
In a recorded message, Violetti noted that Asia accounts for more than half of the world’s population and greenhouse gas emissions, while coal still supplies nearly half of the region’s electricity.
“The direction is set; the difficulty is delivery,” he said.
He identified three priorities for accelerating the transition: aligning climate and energy plans, developing investment-ready projects and establishing common indicators to measure progress.
Violetti said approximately 70 percent of countries have included electricity grid improvements in their national climate plans, while more than half have prioritized energy storage.
He also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in reducing investment risks and financing costs, particularly for developing economies.
Efforts are underway to mobilize USD1.3 trillion annually to support climate action in developing countries, he said.
Violetti emphasized the need for transparent reporting ahead of the second global stocktake in 2028, when countries will assess collective progress toward international climate goals.
He said the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Center for Asia and the Pacific would continue assisting countries in developing clean energy roadmaps, improving reporting systems and preparing projects for financing.
“The shift to clean energy is irreversible. Renewables are cheaper, cleaner, and more secure. Markets have already made that judgment. What remains is increasing the pace,” Violetti said.
The inaugural Asia ACT Forum, hosted by the Philippine government through the Climate Change Commission and Department of Energy, gathered government representatives, financial institutions, development partners, private sector stakeholders and youth advocates.
The event supports the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship priorities, particularly strengthening regional power grid connectivity, expanding renewable energy investments and improving energy security across Southeast Asia.
