Business for Sustainable Development was one of the event partners during the recent The Net Zero Building and Net Zero City Summit held last January 10, 2023 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. The summit had the theme “Building Resilient Cities: Addressing Climate Risk and Reaching Net Zero”
The summit brought together various stakeholders involved in net zero buildings, energy efficiency, building technology, smart cities and sustainability. These stakeholders can help the Philippines achieve its climate goals by changing the way buildings and cities are planned with lower emissions and greater circularity and resilience in mind.
One of the speakers was Architect Jun Palafox Jr, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of BSD. He reiterated his constant call for the industry and government to adopt green and sustainable ideas in real estate development and in urban and transportation planning. He stated that Metro Manila is “no longer sustainable.”
Various industry leaders also reported on the progress they’ve made on their Net Zero commitments. Mr. Salvador Tan (AVP – Architect and Urban Planner for Ayala Land, Inc.) urged the audience to take a closer look at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The summit also tackled other topics such as: 1) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in the Philippines; 2) Circular Economy in Buildings, Cities, and Regions; 3) Green and Thriving Neighborhood: A Pathway to Net Zero; and 4) ESG as a Value Driver for Real Estate.