Achieving sustainable future through Net Zero

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

In a bid to lessen carbon footprints and promote green infrastructure to mitigate climate change and achieve a net zero target by 2050, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) partnered with the British Embassy, the Philippine government, and private firms like Holcim, Unilever, and Eco Business to revive the health of the planet through the Net Zero Carbon Alliance.

Lawyer Allan Barcela, EDC AVP and head of corporate support function, said during the recent Net Zero Media Training of the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NCZA) that they are collaborating with private institutions, the British Embassy, the Philippine government, and other firms to pursue a net zero target as a major solution to combat climate change.

“Climate change is an existential threat. It's really serious, the science is overwhelming, it's real, and we are facing the impact of climate change. But the question is, why net zero? What is the global and country commitment to net zero? Net zero is important because it is a big part of the solution to fight climate change,” Barcela said.

He added that science clearly shows that in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a livable planet, global temperature increases need to be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as a rise of 2 degrees Celsius or more could be devastating.

Barcela explained that achieving net zero requires significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy. Net zero is the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

The Net Zero Carbon Alliance, the largest private sector-backed organization advocating for and advancing progress on net zero, will unveil the Net Zero Conference 2024.

The Net Zero Conference is a flagship event that gathers policy leaders, financial institutions, businesses, and stakeholders to discuss strategies necessary for unlocking new economic opportunities and guiding the Philippines’ private sector toward a meaningful, equitable, and sustainable net zero transformation.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, private companies in the country are constructing buildings dubbed as “green infrastructure” to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Samuel Manlosa, Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Geocycle, said during the Net Zero Media Training of the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NCZA) that their firm, the cement maker Holcim Philippines Inc., is pioneering green cement production by utilizing biomass and community waste materials as sources of green energy.

He noted that the cement industry is often perceived as a notorious or "dirty" industry because it traditionally consumes a lot of fuel, such as coal.

“Whenever you produce cement, you need a heat-intensive process, you need to heat materials to very high temperatures. Long ago, when the process was developed, coal was the obvious fuel choice,” he explained.

“Holcim is globally known as a cement company and building solutions provider, but we also happen to be the biggest waste management company in the world. Why is that? Because we use agricultural waste as fuel. This is one of the steps we have taken. You can find a new purpose for waste. It requires a lot of steps in between, but if you can convert waste materials into fuel, they can offset the use of coal,” Manlosa said.

He revealed that their company used 100 million kilograms of biomass, or agricultural waste, to generate energy.

“Last year, we used 100 million kilograms of biomass waste. This creates carbon offsets by reducing coal usage. We use available waste materials for carbon offsets instead of coal. Waste to energy. You find a purpose in it. We use whatever is available, even municipal waste,” he said.

Manlosa further mentioned that another 80 million kilograms of municipal waste allowed them to offset coal usage, which involved working with local governments for waste diversion.

“The lesson is that if a company is committed to sustainability, it can always find a way. Holcim uses agricultural and municipal waste materials available for carbon offsets. Waste to energy. As a result, we have been able to reduce carbon emissions. We have reduced carbon emissions by 40 percent in the last four years. Today, we are operating with lower carbon emissions,” Manlosa said.

Holcim is investing P2 billion over the next three years for all sustainability initiatives, including solar power plants, although he acknowledged that going green is expensive but necessary to help the planet heal.

“There is always a price for innovation. Low-carbon cement is a journey. We should invest in enhancing sustainability programs, innovation, and efficiency. With climate action at the core of Holcim's strategy, we have set 2030 and 2050 net-zero targets in line with the 1.5°C framework,” Manlosa stated.