PH joins other Asian countries in pushing for decarbonization

PUSH FOR DECARBONIZATION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. attends the Asia Zero Emission Community Leaders Meeting in Tokyo, Japan on Monday (Dec. 18, 2023). Marcos reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to renewable energy targets. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and other leaders comprising the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) vowed to push for decarbonization to address climate change.

The AZEC is a platform consisting of Asian countries that promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in Asia while supporting a sound economic growth in the region.

In a joint statement released in Tokyo on Monday, AZEC leaders vowed to advance cooperation toward carbon neutrality and net zero emission with the end goal of maintaining the increase in the global average temperature to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

“We welcome the outcome of the first Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting held in March 2023 in Tokyo, which set up these common understanding among partners countries,” the joint statement said.

The leaders also agreed to promote policy support and collaboration in tangible projects through tailored approach toward decarbonization with the use of heat pumps, scaling up renewable energy, energy storage, regional interconnectivity and improving grid flexibility, as well as the use of nuclear energy, including small modular and other advanced reactors.

Other means include the use of hydrogen and its derivatives, electrolyzer technology, biomass and carbon capture utilization and storage across sectors and industry, recycling of common minerals while promoting electrification and fueling switching, and the use of liquified natural gas.

Reliable renewable-based micro-grids will also be deployed to remote islands and perovskite solar cells, and offshore wind power will also part of the mix, in addition to the adoption of technologies such as electric vehicles, biofuels and hydrogen and its derivatives.

The leaders also agreed to foster public-private partnerships and cooperation among private sectors to accelerate energy transitions through the creation of specific energy transition projects.

“In this regard, we welcome activities to promote public-private cooperation in partner countries such as those in AZEC Advocacy Group, AZEC/GX Promotion Working Team in Vietnam, AZEC Japan-Indonesia Joint Task Force in Indonesia and Cleaner Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN,” the leaders said.

The AZEC leaders cited the importance of adequate financing to support the energy transition in the region and also recognized the importance of promotion and implementation of high integrity carbon markets and crediting schemes such as through collaboration models, but not limited to the Joint Crediting Mechanism.

The leaders welcomed collaboration with all other countries within and beyond Asia that wish to support the region’s energy transition and energy security.

PH commitment

President Marcos committed to promote and shift to clean energy.

He also invited AZEC partners to invest in the renewable energy industry and emerging technologies in the Philippines, and introduce energy efficiency and conservation measures in the country.

Marcos said the Philippines is joining its AZEC partners in recognizing the need to accelerate a clean, sustainable, just, affordable and inclusive energy transition towards carbon neutrality, or net-zero emissions.