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| “This award is not the finish line. 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.” — Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay on the city's historic win as Global Winner in the developing countries category of the 2026 edition of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge, the first in the Philippines and Southeast Asia to receive the distinction (Image Source: Manila Standard/City Government Of Makati) |
Makati City has been named a Global Winner in the developing countries category of the 2026 edition of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) as announced by City Mayor Nancy Binay. Makati is the first Philippine city to be named a Global Winner in the said challenge and also the first in Southeast Asia to receive the distinction.
The One Planet City Challenge is the world’s largest and longest-running climate challenge for cities. Hosted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), it recognizes cities that are leading the way toward a safe, climate-resilient future. “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. This recognition affirms that Makati’s approach to climate action, grounded in data, policy, and genuine partnership with our residents, is working,” said Mayor Binay. Makati was recognized at the OPCC global award ceremony held last June 30, 2026 at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany where WWF honored the top-performing cities out of more than 380 participants from 51 countries in the 2025-2026 cycle. Aside from Makati, Paris was also named as global co-winner for the 2025-2026 cycle. This is a huge milestone since it is the first time a Philippine city has won the global title. Mayor Binay underscored, “This award is not the finish line. 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.” The city was previously named the Philippines’ National Winner in the OPCC 2024 cycle and has since built on that momentum through its climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives, science-aligned greenhouse gas reduction targets, and continued disclosure of environmental data through the CDP-ICLEI (Carbon Disclosure Project-Local Governments For Sustainability) Track platform which also earned the city A-List recognition from CDP for three consecutive years.
Makati has likewise invested in green infrastructure and open space incentives integrated into its zoning policies, sustainable and low-carbon transport systems, improved solid waste management, and disaster preparedness programs designed to strengthen community resilience against climate-related hazards. Under Mayor Nancy’s administration, Makati became the very first local government in the Philippines to power all of its public buildings entirely with renewable energy. Through a partnership with ACEN Corporation, all 154 city government facilities across the city will soon run on solar, wind, and geothermal power, expected to prevent nearly 290,000 metric tons of carbon emissions over the life of the contract. “I thank our constituents, whose everyday actions and support made this recognition possible. 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. 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,” said Mayor Binay.
