ON SEPTEMBER 18, I had the chance to attend a Net Zero Conference organized by the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) at SMX Aura in Taguig City.
There, I picked up a few key terms that I felt compelled to unpack in order to better understand the broad and complex issue of decarbonization: carbon emissions, irreversible damage, and the bamboo revolution.
Much of the day-long discussions and breakout sessions admittedly felt like alapaap — floating in the air, a bit too abstract. But these three phrases stuck with me.
CARBON EMISSIONS
The simplest way to understand carbon emissions is also the scariest. This term almost automatically connects to global warming, climate change, and the threat they pose to humans, food security, and ecosystems.
All negative. All dangerous. No need to detail every aspect — they speak for themselves.
IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE
Another spine-chilling reality tied to carbon emissions is what experts call irreversible damage — harm to both the environment and human life that cannot be undone.
Alarming, isn’t it?
Research shows carbon emissions intensify extreme weather conditions: powerful storms or cyclones, heavy rainfall, scorching heatwaves, prolonged droughts, or El Niño events that often culminate in massive flooding.
This weird, increasingly unpredictable weather pattern makes the threat more real, more relatable.
BAMBOO REVOLUTION
So, is there still hope?
Some say it lies in the bamboo revolution. While not a complete cure for carbon emissions, studies suggest bamboo can help mitigate climate change by serving as one of the most effective “carbon sinks.”
Like mangroves, bamboo has a remarkable ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial and human activities. Hence, planting bamboo wherever possible is strongly encouraged.
CORPORATE DECARBONIZATION
But bamboo alone is not enough. The push for corporate decarbonization is also gaining ground. Admittedly, this is no easy path to navigate.
Still, hats off to the Lopez-led FirstGen and Energy Development Corporation (EDC) for pioneering the Philippines’ ambitious quest for net zero carbon emissions.
Their persistence has not been in vain. This year, eight more large companies joined their four-year-old alliance, believing that reaching net zero in the country requires bold, collective strides.
As the saying goes: if there’s a will, there’s a way. And FirstGen and EDC remain confident they can recruit more allies every year to strengthen their cause.
WINDING, ROCKY ROAD
Indeed, the road to net zero carbon emissions is winding, even rocky. More challenges lie ahead. Yet for the sake of both humanity and the environment, these Lopez-led champions refuse to lose hope or back down.
From my perspective, their commitment goes beyond corporate duty—it is a promise to Filipino communities: clean air, a healthy environment, and, ultimately, happier lives.
AN ‘EARTHLY MISSION’
In sum, decarbonization is an “earthly mission” for FirstGen and EDC.
It is tedious work, requiring massive information campaigns until every Filipino truly grasps the essence of the mission. Why? Because spending billions for decarbonization will mean little if people remain ignorant of what it entails.
Every individual — ordinary or well-educated — must play an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. From the motorbikes we ride to the food we eat — like beef, which produces up to 90% more earth-warming emissions than other foods—our choices matter.
What are these earth-warming emissions? As my Earth Science teacher once explained, they are gases like carbon dioxide and methane, released into the atmosphere through human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Simple as that. But connect the dots, and you’ll see why each of us has a vital, non-negotiable role in this mission.
So let’s not be hard-headed. Let’s cooperate so that this ambitious dream of decarbonization can truly be achieved.
That’s simple. That’s attainable!/PN
