The Philippines is at a critical economic and climate crossroads, facing an urgent need for sustainable solutions. As national targets reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75%, by 2030, the low-carbon economy investment law gains appeal, and the opportunity to shape a low-carbon economy is both urgent and touching. Yet despite this momentum, businesses are facing significant obstacles in the net zero range, including a lack of suitable tools, scalable technologies and accessible financing. The challenge is clear: ambition must be translated into action.
To directly address this gap, the Philippines Net Zero Conference 2025, delivered by the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) and the Southeast Asian Corporate Decarbonization Exchange (CDX), will bring together the country’s business leaders, policy makers and sustainability champions on September 18, 2025, at the SMX Convention Convention Centurn Centurn Centurn Centurn Centurn Central Aura in Taguig City in Taguig City. The conference aims to help Philippine companies move from developing climate commitments to implementing real, measurable decarbonization strategies.
Achieving zero emissions brings many benefits to the environment and society. This is crucial to mitigating the worst effects of climate disasters, helping to limit global warming to 1.5°C, reducing extreme weather events, and protecting food supplies and biodiversity. The transition to net zero also brings a lot of economic growth and job creation in emerging industries such as renewable energy, green infrastructure and nature-based projects. Businesses that adopt sustainable practices can also see increased energy security, lower operating costs, enhance brand recognition, and attract investment by aligning with environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
The main driver of this transition is the advancement of the Low Carbon Economic Investment (LCEI) Act. The legislation is crucial to establishing mechanisms that enable the Philippines to take advantage of economic opportunities during the transition period. House Bill 2184 is an example of such a legislative effort that proposes an emission limit and trading system where the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary sets annual reduction targets as reduction targets and imposes additional restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions covering sectors. The system issues tradable allowances to incentivize companies to reduce their emissions. Civil penalties exceeding the allowance will fund the climate reinvestment fund. The meeting will provide insights into the matter, MP Jose Manuel Alba, 1Yingshi Bukidnon Regional Representative and co-author of LCEI, as a group member and speaker.
However, the zero net journey is complicated. Challenges include changing the energy sector, which is responsible for the largest share of global greenhouse gas emissions, creating resilient natural markets, implementing carbon capture technologies, and addressing social and political realities. Due to extreme weather events, the Philippines generates approximately P200 billion in economic losses each year, highlighting the urgent need for investment in climate resilience.
Based on the success of its first edition of 2024, its focus is on “Enhanced Resilience: Expanding Net Zero Ambitions in the Philippines’ Private Sector” and highlights the ever-expanding focus of the 2025 conference. The 2024 event brings together company leaders, policy makers and climate advocates to discuss key issues, highlighting the progress NZCA partners have made in reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
The 2025 conference provides deeper departmental engagement, solution-centric learning, and peer communication based on local reality. New members of this year’s event are CDX FishBowl conferences, interactive, participant-driven discussions designed to surface strategies, peer learning and practice enablers. Participants can expect to gain viable knowledge on the core pillars of the NZCA framework, learn from local and regional net zero implementation case studies, build partnerships through curated cyberspace, and develop a shared action agenda for 2026 and beyond.
Confirmed speakers include Hon. Raphael “Popo” Lotilla of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Jerome H. Cainglet, president and chief operating officer of the Energy Development Company, provided welcome comments. Other notable speakers and panelists include Rondell Torres (Sustainability leadership in the Philippines and Greater Asia Unilever), Artie. Allan V. Barcelona (Executive Director of NZCA), Agnes de Jesus (Chief Sustainability Officer of First Philippine Holdings) and Mark Lister (CDX CEO), who will deliver their closing remarks.
Sign up now to ensure your slot And equip your business with the insights, tools and partnerships you need to implement effective solutions. By participating, you can not only improve your company’s sustainability agenda, but also promote the Philippines’ national decarbonization strategy.
Let’s turn our ambitions into tangible actions to make the Philippines a more resilient, sustainable and low-carbon future.
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