True leadership is measured not by the challenges a city faces, but by how it innovates to meet them. For Makati City, that innovation has yielded a historic milestone. Mayor Nancy Binay announced that Makati has won the 2026 WWF One Planet City Challenge as a Global Winner.
This achievement makes Makati the first city in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia to earn this elite distinction.
To be named a Global Winner is an honor we accept on behalf of every Makati resident who has supported our climate programs, from our barangays to our business community,” Mayor Binay stated.
This recognition affirms that Makati’s approach to climate action, grounded in data, policy, and genuine partnership with our residents, is working.” she added.
A Historic Milestone in Hamburg
The international recognition occurred on June 30 during the OPCC global award ceremony at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany. There, WWF celebrated top-performing cities chosen from a pool of more than 380 participants spanning 51 countries in the 2025–2026 cycle.
Paris, France, shared the global spotlight as the global co-winner for the same cycle. This milestone marks the very first time a Philippine city has claimed the global title. Despite the celebration, local leadership views the accolade as a stepping stone rather than a final destination.
This award is not the finish line,” Mayor Binay underscored.
It is a challenge to keep raising our standards, to keep listening to our communities, and to keep building a Makati that is resilient for generations to come.” she added.
Building on Green Momentum
This global victory culminates years of focused environmental policy. After winning the Philippines’ National Winner title in the OPCC 2024 cycle, Makati actively built upon that momentum by executing aggressive climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives.
Science-aligned greenhouse gas reduction targets and a commitment to transparency drive the city’s strategy. By consistently disclosing its environmental data through the CDP-ICLEI Track platform, Makati has earned a spot on the CDP A-List for three consecutive years.
Powering the Future with Renewable Energy
Under Mayor Binay’s administration, Makati achieved another historic milestone, becoming the first local government unit in the Philippines to power all its public buildings entirely with renewable energy.
Through a strategic partnership with ACEN Corporation, the city will transition all 154 government facilities to solar, wind, and geothermal power. This clean energy initiative will prevent nearly 290,000 metric tons of carbon emissions over the lifespan of the contract.
A Collaborative Vision for Carbon Neutrality
Reflecting on the collective effort required to achieve such international acclaim, Mayor Binay expressed her gratitude to the people driving these initiatives on the ground.
I thank our constituents, whose everyday actions and support made this recognition possible,” Mayor Binay said.
I also thank all our partner departments and offices for their tireless efforts in implementing our climate programs, and the WWF and the OPCC for recognizing Makati’s efforts on the global stage.” she added.
Looking ahead, the city has no plans of slowing down its ecological transition.
The City Government of Makati will continue to strengthen its partnerships with WWF, ICLEI, and other environmental organizations as it pursues its long-term goal of carbon neutrality, while sustaining programs in green infrastructure, sustainable transport, and community-based climate resilience,” Mayor Binay stressed.
As the world’s largest and longest-running climate challenge for cities, the WWF-hosted One Planet City Challenge continues to spotlight urban centers that are actively pioneering the path toward a safe, climate-resilient future. A movement that Makati City now leads by example.
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