Renewable Energy Seen As Shield Against Global Fuel And Geopolitical Risks
- October 6, 2026
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The Philippines must accelerate its shift to renewable energy to reduce its exposure to international fuel supply shocks and geopolitical instability, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.
Cuna made the case for a faster energy transition during New York Climate Week, where he highlighted the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and the need to strengthen domestic energy resilience.
Speaking at a high-level reception hosted by Danish green fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), Cuna said energy reliability, environmental protection and geopolitical stability have become closely linked concerns for the Philippines.
“The world is navigating an era of complex geopolitical change, where the traditional paradigms of national security are rapidly evolving,” Cuna said.
“For the Philippines, a highly vulnerable archipelagic nation, the intersection of energy reliability, environmental preservation, and geopolitical stability is an everyday reality, not just a theoretical concept,” he added.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said decades of reliance on imported fossil fuels have exposed the Philippine economy to disruptions in global energy markets.
Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the government aims to raise renewable energy’s share of the country’s power generation mix to more than 50% by 2050, with an interim target of 35% by 2030.
The government has also opened the renewable energy sector to 100% foreign ownership and established priority “green lanes” intended to speed up approvals for key infrastructure projects.
Offshore Wind Partnership
Cuna cited the government’s growing partnership with CIP as an example of efforts to expand the country’s renewable energy capacity.
CIP is developing three offshore wind projects across Northern Samar, Pangasinan, La Union, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, with a combined potential capacity of around 2,000 megawatts.
The centerpiece of the partnership is the $3-billion, 1,000-MW San Miguel Bay Offshore Wind Project in Camarines Sur.
The project became the first offshore wind initiative in the Philippines to receive a pre-development Environmental Compliance Certificate from the DENR.
Cuna described the issuance as a “watershed moment,” underscoring the agency’s effort to facilitate clean energy investments while maintaining environmental requirements.
The pre-development ECC provides an important regulatory milestone for the project as the country seeks to develop a new offshore wind industry capable of adding large-scale renewable capacity to the power system.
Balancing Energy And Marine Protection
The government is also seeking to ensure that offshore wind development does not undermine marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
The DENR has introduced administrative guidelines covering environmental impact assessments, climate and disaster risk assessments, and marine spatial planning for large offshore wind developments.
The framework includes nature-based solutions, emergency response measures, and international social and environmental standards to help identify appropriate areas for offshore wind while protecting critical habitats.
Cuna said the expansion of offshore wind must account for the communities and industries that depend on Philippine waters.
“The oceans that will power our offshore wind turbines also feed millions of our people and sustain coastal economies,” he said.
The secretary also warned that environmental degradation can amplify economic and social vulnerabilities, particularly as countries face growing climate and geopolitical risks.
For the Philippines, the renewable energy push is therefore not only a climate policy but also part of a national strategy to reduce exposure to external energy disruptions.
Cuna urged investors and governments to support the transition through climate finance and technology, saying stronger ecological resilience would contribute to wider economic and geopolitical stability.
Source:
https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/30/philippines-calls-for-boosted-global-biodiversity-financing
