The Philippines is aiming to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75pc for 2025-35 against projected business-as-usual (BAU) cumulative emissions, including in the forestry and other land use sector.
The country submitted the target as part of its latest nationally determined contribution (NDC) — climate plan — to climate body the UNFCCC.
In its 75pc emissions reduction target, 7pc is unconditional and will be met using the country's resources, while 68pc depends on international support, according to a document published on 8 September on the UNFCCC website. BAU scenarios typically assume emissions based on current policies, leaving room for potential increases. The Philippines' business-as-usual emissions estimate assumes GDP growth rates of 7-7.5pc, and a population growth rate of 0.8-1.1 over 2025-35.
The country expects cumulative emissions of 3.61bn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) over 2025-35. When including the forestry and other land use sector, it said that emissions in a BAU scenario would reach 1.31bn t CO2e, as the segment has been a net sink since 2020. This means that the forestry and other land use sector, along with implementable measures, is projected to reduce total cumulative BAU emissions by 2.3bn t CO2e over 2025-35. The base year for the 2025-35 BAU projections is 2015, when the country estimated emissions including the forestry and other land use sector at 659.54mn tCO2e.
The Philippines aims to tap on financial support from the public and private sector to support its 2026 NDC. Implementing the country's NDC depends on whether financial support is ample, accessible and predictable, it said, adding that such support must be highly concessional and provided directly.
The country's first NDC, which it submitted in 2021, targeted a reduction and avoidance of GHG emissions of 75pc for 2020-30, of which 2.71pc was unconditional and 72.29pc was conditional.
The Philippines' 2026 NDC has been informed by the outcomes of the global stocktake, it said. The stocktake is a measurement of progress towards the Paris Agreement, which seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursues a 1.5°C limit.
Meanwhile, the country aims to widen the renewable energy share in its power generation mix, fast-tracking the development of renewable energy plants. It has targeted a renewable energy share of 35pc by 2030 and 50pc by 2040, the country's Philippines energy department said in June.
The Philippines' energy generation totalled 117.9TWh in 2025, data from independent electricity market operator IEMOP show, with coal making up the largest share of power generation at 56pc. Solar generation came in at 4.81TWh in 2025, up from 3.7TWh in 2024. Hydro output rose to 11.9TWh in 2025, from 9.53TWh in 2024.
