No power, no progress: UK urges PH to flip the switch on fossil future
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
No power, no progress: UK urges PH to flip the switch on fossil future
Raine Musñgi,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jul 17, 2025 10:58 PM PHT

MANILA — Climate change is no longer a warning, it’s a reckoning. From flooded homes to paralyzing heat, Filipinos are already facing the daily impacts of a crisis that is outpacing adaptation.
MANILA — Climate change is no longer a warning, it’s a reckoning. From flooded homes to paralyzing heat, Filipinos are already facing the daily impacts of a crisis that is outpacing adaptation.
“There’s nothing sexy about being too hot to work. There’s nothing sexy about being flooded out of your house and losing income,” said Rachel Kyte, the UK Special Representative for Climate, in an exclusive interview on ANC’s Headstart.
“There’s nothing sexy about being too hot to work. There’s nothing sexy about being flooded out of your house and losing income,” said Rachel Kyte, the UK Special Representative for Climate, in an exclusive interview on ANC’s Headstart.
Kyte, who is in Manila to push for deeper UK-PH climate cooperation, emphasized that resilience isn’t optional, it’s economic survival.
Kyte, who is in Manila to push for deeper UK-PH climate cooperation, emphasized that resilience isn’t optional, it’s economic survival.
She cited efforts already underway in partnership with the Philippine government, including early warning systems, agricultural protection, and clean energy infrastructure. Yet a 2024 Harvard study shows that fewer than 50% of Filipinos feel equipped to take part in climate mitigation, highlighting the urgent need for capacity-building from the ground up.
She cited efforts already underway in partnership with the Philippine government, including early warning systems, agricultural protection, and clean energy infrastructure. Yet a 2024 Harvard study shows that fewer than 50% of Filipinos feel equipped to take part in climate mitigation, highlighting the urgent need for capacity-building from the ground up.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s about how fast your power comes back after a typhoon. It’s about food prices, reliable electricity, getting to safety,” Kyte said. “These are climate issues. You may not call it that, but they are.”
“It’s about how fast your power comes back after a typhoon. It’s about food prices, reliable electricity, getting to safety,” Kyte said. “These are climate issues. You may not call it that, but they are.”
She praised the Marcos administration for adopting a whole-of-government approach, while also stressing the crucial role of communities and women in local resilience planning. “Women are often the backbone of community recovery,” she added. “You need them in the planning room.”
She praised the Marcos administration for adopting a whole-of-government approach, while also stressing the crucial role of communities and women in local resilience planning. “Women are often the backbone of community recovery,” she added. “You need them in the planning room.”
Kyte also highlighted the UK’s £5-billion Biodiversity Challenge Fund, which supports conservation, coastal protection, and ecosystem restoration, including efforts involving endangered species like the Philippine pangolin and crocodile.
Kyte also highlighted the UK’s £5-billion Biodiversity Challenge Fund, which supports conservation, coastal protection, and ecosystem restoration, including efforts involving endangered species like the Philippine pangolin and crocodile.
“But it’s not just about charismatic species,” she said. “Biodiversity protects livelihoods, coastlines, and food. It’s how nature helps us stay alive.”
“But it’s not just about charismatic species,” she said. “Biodiversity protects livelihoods, coastlines, and food. It’s how nature helps us stay alive.”
“No Electricity, No Future”: PH Urged to Speed Up Clean Energy Transition, Unlock Green Investments If resilience is survival, clean energy is the engine of progress, and the Philippines is in a race to meet ambitious targets.
“No Electricity, No Future”: PH Urged to Speed Up Clean Energy Transition, Unlock Green Investments If resilience is survival, clean energy is the engine of progress, and the Philippines is in a race to meet ambitious targets.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kyte backed the Philippine government’s aim of hitting a 35% renewable energy share by 2030, and 50% by 2040, calling it “entirely achievable” — but only if it sends clear signals to the private sector.
Kyte backed the Philippine government’s aim of hitting a 35% renewable energy share by 2030, and 50% by 2040, calling it “entirely achievable” — but only if it sends clear signals to the private sector.
“The government has to set clarity. Tell investors where their money is needed. Be consistent in policy,” Kyte emphasized. “Without clean and affordable energy, your economy can’t grow. This is the first order of business.”
“The government has to set clarity. Tell investors where their money is needed. Be consistent in policy,” Kyte emphasized. “Without clean and affordable energy, your economy can’t grow. This is the first order of business.”
She pointed to the UK’s own journey, having shut down its last coal-fired plant and transitioned to a largely renewable power grid. She said the UK is offering technical assistance to the Philippines on how to regulate, legislate, and finance its energy shift.
She pointed to the UK’s own journey, having shut down its last coal-fired plant and transitioned to a largely renewable power grid. She said the UK is offering technical assistance to the Philippines on how to regulate, legislate, and finance its energy shift.
Kyte said Britain is also supporting off-grid solar rollout for far-flung barangays and working with Manila to explore options like carbon credit markets to retire coal plants early. It's a move that could both reduce emissions and attract international climate finance.
Kyte said Britain is also supporting off-grid solar rollout for far-flung barangays and working with Manila to explore options like carbon credit markets to retire coal plants early. It's a move that could both reduce emissions and attract international climate finance.
She warned, however, of potential headwinds, including global supply chain disruptions, tariff tensions, and geopolitical risks, all of which could affect the pace of renewable rollout.
She warned, however, of potential headwinds, including global supply chain disruptions, tariff tensions, and geopolitical risks, all of which could affect the pace of renewable rollout.
ADVERTISEMENT
Still, she remained optimistic: “What the Philippines is doing now is critical — not just for survival, but for image. How you manage your transition determines how the world invests in you.”
Still, she remained optimistic: “What the Philippines is doing now is critical — not just for survival, but for image. How you manage your transition determines how the world invests in you.”
Catch the full interview with Rachel Kyte on Headstart, exclusively on the ANC Prestige YouTube channel.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT