The Philippines’ carbon intensity continues to rise despite efforts by some businesses to improve operational efficiency, raising concerns over the country’s ability to meet its climate commitments, according to the Climate Change Commission (CCC).
CCC Vice Chairman and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said the country’s fossil carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 25% since 2021. He made the remarks during the Philippine Net Zero Conference 2026, where he called for stronger coordination between government and the private sector to reverse the country’s emissions trajectory.
Carbon intensity measures the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced relative to economic output, energy use or another measure of activity. Borje said that while some companies have reduced their emissions intensity, the Philippines’ overall national emissions trajectory has continued moving upward.
He noted that the country’s electricity grid has also shown increasing carbon intensity over the past decade, indicating that economic and industrial growth is still heavily linked to carbon-intensive energy sources.
The CCC official said individual efforts, while important, would not be enough to significantly change the national emissions path. Decisions involving major assets, contracts, technologies and investments will have a much larger impact on the country’s overall carbon footprint, he said.
The Philippines has committed under its Nationally Determined Contribution to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2035. Of that target, 7% is unconditional and can be achieved using the country’s own resources, while the remaining 68% is conditional on international support such as climate financing, technology transfer, capacity building and public-private investment.
Borje stressed that the private sector will be essential to achieving the emissions-reduction target but said companies cannot be expected to shoulder the financial burden alone. He called for government policies that can make low-carbon investments more viable and provide clearer frameworks for businesses seeking to reduce their emissions.
The CCC’s assessment also highlighted a gap in corporate emissions reporting. Borje said a review of publicly available filings and sustainability reports found that only 20 of 137 listed Philippine companies had provided clear year-to-year carbon data.
Some large companies have reported improvements in carbon intensity, meaning they are producing fewer emissions relative to the amount of goods or services they generate. However, Borje said this does not necessarily mean their total emissions are falling because businesses can become more efficient while simultaneously expanding their operations.
This distinction is important because a company can lower emissions per unit of production while its overall carbon footprint continues to increase. The CCC is therefore calling for greater attention to absolute emissions alongside efficiency indicators.
Borje cited the scale of emissions from major corporate operations to illustrate the challenge. He said one major listed Philippine conglomerate reported about 230 tons of emissions during only four minutes of daily operations, an amount he compared with the emissions generated by 100 average Filipinos over roughly 11 months.
The CCC has also been working with international partners to prepare the Philippines for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Recent discussions have focused on developing a carbon-pricing framework that supports national development, protects market integrity and encourages actual investment in low-carbon projects.
The commission has said carbon-market mechanisms must be supported by reliable emissions information so that reductions can be measured and verified. Better corporate disclosure would therefore help both policymakers and investors determine where emissions are coming from and whether reduction efforts are producing measurable results.
The CCC is also urging closer cooperation with business groups and other stakeholders on areas including carbon-market architecture, emissions information and investment pathways. The commission has emphasized that climate action requires participation across government, businesses and other sectors rather than relying solely on individual behavior.
The latest warning comes as the Philippines faces broader climate-related pressures, including stronger weather risks, rising temperatures and the potential intensification of El Niño conditions. The CCC has recently called for more predictive governance and greater use of climate and risk information in government planning.
For the Philippines, the challenge is therefore not only to improve the efficiency of individual companies but also to reduce emissions across the wider economy. The CCC’s latest assessment underscores the need for stronger emissions data, cleaner energy investments, supportive policies and private-sector participation if the country is to move its national carbon trajectory downward.
