Ensuring a just energy transition in the Philippines: evidence from the Nabas Wind Farm

Abstract

The urgency of fast-tracking the global energy transition is undeniable, and many governments across the globe have already enacted laws prioritising and facilitating the development of renewable energy projects. However, there are drawbacks to fast-tracking such projects. For example, renewable energy projects often take place in conservation areas and, particularly in Southeast Asia, many are developed within biodiversity hotspots. In addition, there is concern that by prioritising energy transition without having adequate safeguards in place, communities that rely heavily on local ecosystems could be sidelined in the development process. This deal narrative takes a look at the Nabas Wind Farm on Panay Island in the Philippines as a case study to highlight these challenges and trade-offs in fast-tracking renewable energy projects.