ON World Environment Day, climate justice and clean energy advocates across Asia staged creative protests and solidarity actions, calling out the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for continuing to fund fossil fuels and promoting market-based climate solutions.
In front of the ADB headquarters in Mandaluyong City — where the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) is being held — advocates from 350 Pilipinas led a colorful demonstration. Carrying a giant globe surrounded by models of community-built renewable energy structures, participants danced to jazz music and chanted for climate justice. Some dressed as fireflies to symbolize the fragile state of ecosystems, noting that the insects’ decline is a warning of ecological damage.
The annual ACEF gathers government leaders, private companies, and other stakeholders to promote clean energy initiatives. However, civil society groups argue the event is dominated by private-sector interests and large-scale decarbonization models that often marginalize grassroots efforts and frontline communities.
“As the ADB hosts ACEF to talk about clean energy, we’re here to call their bluff. Fossil gas, carbon markets, and geoengineering are just dangerous licenses to pollute. We need real public investment in energy systems led by communities, not corporations,” said Chuck Baclagon, Asia regional finance campaigner for 350.org.
Fread De Mesa, national coordinator for 350 Pilipinas, said the action was both a protest and a proposal.
“We reject the ADB’s half-hearted response to the urgency of the climate crisis and demand real support for regenerative, distributed energy systems,” he said.
Despite ADB’s stated climate commitments, the bank continues to finance fossil fuel infrastructure — particularly fossil gas — as part of its so-called transition strategy. Advocates argue that these investments undermine the fight against climate change and often displace communities while harming ecosystems.
They are urging the ADB to phase out fossil fuel financing entirely, scale up public investment in distributed, community-owned renewable energy, and ensure transparency and accountability in climate finance.
The protest in the Philippines was part of a wave of solidarity actions across Asia. In Japan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, campaigners joined the call for ADB to prioritize people and the planet over corporate profits.
“Japan, as ADB’s largest shareholder, bears a heavy responsibility. Its investments must clearly exclude fossil gas, which has no place in a real energy transition,” said Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan campaigner.
Sisilia Nurmala Dewi, 350.org Indonesia team lead, raised concerns over reports that ADB’s $600 million loan to the Indonesian state utility PLN may fund coal projects.
“So-called ‘clean energy’ investments must be transparent, exclude fossil fuels, and respect community rights,” she said.
In Bangladesh, Amanullah Porag, 350.org South Asia coordinator, said the ADB has trapped the country in fossil gas dependence.
“ADB must be accountable and end fossil fuel investments entirely,” he said.
Advocates across the region say the ADB has an opportunity to help lead a real energy transition — but only if it redirects funding to community-driven, renewable solutions.
