United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a faster global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, saying clean energy is key to both climate action and energy security.
Speaking during London Climate Action Week, Guterres unveiled a seven-point climate action plan that included cutting methane emissions, expanding renewable energy, strengthening climate adaptation, increasing climate finance, and combating climate disinformation.
“The verdict is in: Energy independence cannot be built on fossil fuel dependence,” Guterres said. “Renewables are the cornerstone of true energy security.”
Guterres made the call as the Philippines expands renewable energy projects, including offshore wind developments that have drawn opposition from some fishing communities concerned about their impact on livelihoods and marine ecosystems.
One of the projects facing opposition is a proposed 1,000-megawatt offshore wind farm in San Miguel Bay, a major fishing area in the central Philippine provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte.
The project, being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure New Market Fund Corp., is among three offshore wind developments under the company’s portfolio in the country and is valued at about ₱175 billion.
The offshore wind farm would cover more than 23,000 hectares of sea and include between 110 and 160 wind turbines.
Fisherfolk organizations and residents opposing the project said it could affect fishing grounds used by thousands of small-scale fishers and reduce fish catches in communities that depend on the bay for their livelihood.
In February, the Association of Small-Scale Fisherfolk in San Miguel Bay led a fisherfolk assembly in Camarines Sur province and launched the Defend San Miguel Bay Network as part of a campaign against the offshore wind project.
According to the alliance, the development would span coastal waters around San Miguel Bay and include onshore facilities in nearby communities.
In a statement, the Defend San Miguel Bay Network described the project as “a clear example of neo-colonial plunder in the guise of ‘green energy’ and ‘global climate’ as a cover-up to reoccupy our coasts and natural resources for the profit of foreign monopoly capitalists and their local accomplices.”
The group said the construction and operation of large offshore wind turbines would threaten the livelihoods of fishing communities and the marine ecosystem of San Miguel Bay.
“Thousands of families in the coastal areas will lose their livelihoods. This is a direct attack on our food security and our right to our marine resources,” it said.
The project gained additional backing in May 2025 when ACEN, the listed energy company of the Ayala group, acquired a 25% minority stake in the development from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
Another company, Singapore-based NEXIF Ratch Energy, is also pursuing a 500-megawatt offshore wind project in San Miguel Bay. The proposed development would cover more than 6,000 hectares offshore and has received a pre-development environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Public records show the Department of Energy has awarded service contracts for 57 offshore wind projects across the Philippines as part of efforts to expand renewable energy generation.
Guterres acknowledged that the transition away from fossil fuels must be carried out fairly and should not leave communities behind.
“A just transition means the countries and communities whose lands hold the critical minerals of the clean energy future must fully share in its benefits,” he said. “No more extraction without development.”
The secretary-general also warned that climate change continues to intensify and called for greater investment in adaptation and resilience.
“We must do far more to protect people and communities from the here-and-now effects of climate chaos,” he said. “Because even at full speed, we cannot outrun climate change.”
