Politics · Philippines Bureau
Legarda pushes government to lead by example on carbon emissions
Senator Loren Legarda has called on government agencies to assess and reduce their own carbon footprints as the Philippines develops its national carbon market framework. The lawmaker stressed that officials must demonstrate commitment to environmental accountability before expecting private sector compliance.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda urged Philippine government agencies Wednesday to examine and disclose their carbon emissions as the country moves forward with establishing a carbon market policy framework.
Legarda emphasized that state institutions must lead efforts to transition toward a low-carbon economy. "We are asking businesses to prepare for a more accountable, low-carbon economy. Government must be prepared to set the example," she stated.
The senator's call comes as the Department of Energy and other government bodies work to operationalize the Philippine Carbon Market Policy Framework, a key instrument for achieving the country's climate commitments under international agreements.
Legarda stressed that government transparency on emissions reduction efforts would establish credibility in regulatory discussions with the business community. She argued that agencies demonstrating measurable progress on their own environmental footprints would strengthen the framework's implementation and encourage broader private sector participation.
The development of a domestic carbon market represents a significant step in the Philippines' climate action strategy, potentially creating mechanisms for emissions trading and incentivizing industrial decarbonization.