The Philippines is emerging as a strategic player in Asia-Pacific’s fast-growing sustainable finance market, according to ING’s latest Sustainable Finance Pulse, as global issuance held steady at $852 billion in the first half of 2025 despite geopolitical uncertainty.
The country’s commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2030 and boosting renewable energy to 35 percent of its power mix by the same year positions it strongly to attract green capital, ING said.
Supporting policies from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), such as the Sustainable Finance Framework and Taxonomy Guidelines, are further strengthening the investment ecosystem, it said.
“The strength we see in sustainable finance markets, even amid global uncertainties, confirms that moving to a low-carbon economy is both an environmental need and an economic opportunity,” said Jun Palanca, ING Philippines country manager.
“In the Philippines, we see huge potential across multiple sectors – particularly in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and emerging areas like electric transport,” he said.
Transport accounts for nearly a quarter of the Philippines’ carbon emissions, making the sector a focus of both government incentives and private financing under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.
While electric vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating, ING noted that infrastructure gaps, particularly charging networks, remain a hurdle, creating opportunities for innovative financing solutions.
Globally, ING delivered its strongest first half on record, mobilizing 68 billion euros in sustainable finance, up 19 percent from a year earlier.
Green loans drove much of the growth, rising 17 percent in volume and 48 percent in transactions.
For the Philippines, ING said it would continue backing renewable energy projects, sustainable infrastructure development and EV initiatives—underscoring the country’s role in Southeast Asia’s transition to a clean energy economy.
