In celebration of Earth Day, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga emphasized the urgent need for a just and inclusive transition to renewable energy in the Philippines. In a Facebook post from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau page, she highlighted how in the country’s shift to clean energy, no one and no ecosystem should be left behind.
The biodiverse-rich land of the Philippines holds countless opportunities for clean and renewable energy- ranging from solar to hydro to wind and to geothermal. But despite these blessings, Secretary Loyzaga warned that tapping into these sources must be done responsibly.
“The use of these energy resources is not without cost,” Loyzaga said. “The social and economic cost of clean energy must be accompanied by just transition. It must also be accompanied by the responsible and sustainable use of critical energy transition minerals.”
This message aligns with the year’s Earth Day theme of “Our Power, Our Planet” which puts the spotlight of climate change on the people. Loyzaga points to a broader, more complex challenge: while clean energy helps reduce carbon emissions, the process of getting there—especially through the mining of critical minerals like nickel and cobalt—can also create new social and environmental risks if not handled equitably.
The DENR secretary made sure to clarify how this mission is the collective responsibility of stakeholders across all sectors. Green development isn’t just about technology, but also justice.
“We must ensure that in this quest for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development, there must be no one and no ecosystem left behind,” she said.
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