As climate-related disclosures increasingly shape global trade, investment flows, and business competitiveness, the Philippines is moving to establish more reliable and consistent systems for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all industries.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in Quezon City with Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOEJ) to boost cooperation on corporate emissions accounting and reporting.
“This is a strategic step toward building a unified, data-driven system that strengthens both national policy and private sector readiness,” said DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh.
The collaboration comes amid rising global demand for verified emissions data, as climate information becomes a key factor in investment choices, sustainability reporting, and new carbon-related trade rules.
Kentaro Doi, Vice Minister of Environmental Affairs of Japan, noted that aligning systems with the internationally recognized GHG Protocol will reduce reporting burdens for companies operating in both countries, which share strong economic ties.
For the Philippines, improving data quality carries both environmental and economic importance. Accurate emissions records are vital for reliable national climate assessments, better policy design, and ensuring local businesses remain competitive as global standards grow stricter.
The LOI outlines three key areas of cooperation: refining GHG calculation tools, providing nationwide training for businesses, and creating a digital platform to streamline emissions reporting. This builds on the 2020 Partnership to Strengthen Transparency for Co-Innovation (PaSTI), which already developed a calculation tool for the waste and industrial sectors with Japanese support.
SEC Commissioner McJill Bryant T. Fernandez emphasized that aligning emissions reporting and sustainability rules will create greater consistency in how companies disclose their environmental performance.
Better data is expected to improve national climate records, make it easier to track progress in cutting emissions, and help the country take more effective climate action. It will also prepare Philippine industries for upcoming international requirements, such as carbon border measures and participation in global carbon markets.
The DENR is also working on formal rules to make standardized emissions tools a permanent part of national reporting, as part of wider efforts to improve climate governance.
“Together, we are turning transparency into a foundation for global competitiveness, low-carbon growth, and climate resilience,” said Rebuelta-Teh.
