Quezon city: The Quezon City’s Green Building Code of 2025 is expected to boost climate action and the use of renewable energy. In a news release on Tuesday, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said the initiative, which updates the city’s 2009 Green Building Ordinance and supports the Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2050, would advance sustainable construction and climate resilience.
According to Philippines News Agency, Belmonte highlighted the impact of increasing temperatures on the health and livelihood of the city’s constituents. She emphasized the city’s responsibility to uphold the rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology. The new building code aims to make establishments more liveable, comfortable, and resilient, mitigating the harmful effects of global climate change while ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents.
Quezon City, with a population of 3.2 million and an area of 160 square kilometers, faces a pressing challenge with energy use in buildings. These buildings account for about 60 percent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions, equating to 7,087,064 tons of carbon dioxide. The initiative targets these buildings, promoting the wider use of solar energy and sustainable construction or green design principles.
The new code is projected to generate new green jobs and lower electricity costs for residents. Developed with technical assistance from C40 Cities’ Urban Climate Action Programme and funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, it aims to reduce electricity consumption by 12 percent by 2030. This reduction is equivalent to 714-900 gigawatt-hours per year and will cut 0.56 to 0.67 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, comparable to removing 120,000 cars from the roads.
UK Deputy Head of Mission Mike Welch commended Quezon City’s leadership in urban climate governance, describing the Green Building Code as a ‘benchmark for sustainable and resilient city planning.’ Meanwhile, C40’s Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, Murali Ram, noted that QC’s science-based climate action sets an example for other cities in the region. He added that the effort will decrease greenhouse gas emissions, improve resilience, and create green jobs-up to 67 for every million dollars invested in efficient buildings.
