Climate Action
Tracking emissions and transformations in our fight against climate change.
Shifting Carbon Emissions from Roads to Grid Due to EVs
With the rising adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines, carbon emissions from road vehicles have shown fluctuations rather than consistent growth. This suggests a potential slowdown in the rate of increase, marking a cautious step toward cleaner urban transportation. However, this transition brings with it a growing demand for electricity, much of which is still produced using fossil fuels in the Philippines. As shown in the plot, emissions attributed to EV electricity consumption continue to rise annually. If the country is to fully embrace EVs as a climate solution, its energy generation must also shift toward renewable sources. Otherwise, the carbon burden simply moves from tailpipes to power plants, undermining the sustainability goals of electric mobility.
The UHI Effect and CO2 Vehicle Emissions in Metro Manila
The graph shows the monthly total CO₂ emissions from vehicles in Metro Manila and the corresponding Urban Heat Island (UHI) intensity from 2021 to 2024. UHI intensity is calculated by comparing Metro Manila’s daily apparent maximum temperature to that of nearby rural regions, then smoothened into monthly averages. From the graph, it is clear that UHI intensity has been increasing, especially during the dry season, where temperature differences range from 5 to 6°C, compared to just 2 to 3°C in the wet season. A noticeable trend is the positive correlation between CO₂ emissions and UHI intensity—immediate during the wet season but delayed by around two months during the dry season. This suggests that vehicle emissions contribute to the intensifying urban heat in Metro Manila. While CO₂ from transport is not the only cause, the plot underscores a hard truth: the heat we feel isn’t just weather; it’s something we’re driving.