Raising Ambitions Beyond Net Zero: The Case for Regeneration

What's beyond green? What's next after net zero? What's better than resilience?

And as we unite to raise and achieve our collective ambition, what becomes of our individual aspirations?

In the the 6th article in this series, Harmonizing Green & Resilient: The Case for Olive Green, we examined the interconnectedness of green and resilient—or mitigation and adaptation—and how balance must be achieved between the two. In this article, I invite you to reflect on the delicate balance between individual and collective ambitions—and what could happen if you don't. 🌱

Today, September 8th, marks both the National Green Building Day, a national holiday in the Philippines, and my fourth anniversary at IFC. This year it also ushers in the World Green Building Week.

Every September 8th

I celebrate my anniversary with a post.

September 8, 2023 - The intersection of National Green Building Day with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the important role of women:

There's an interconnectedness between climate and gender issues, and we've emphasized the important role of women in sustainability in the built environment.

September 8, 2022 - A native dish from my province called Igado, and how it represents the frugality and efficiency of the Ilocano people:

This year was one of #green and #resilient growth, but my hope is that next year, I’ll be able to report even more growth through portfolio certifications. We have some bigger news to share so do join us in our webinar today at 3PM!

September 8, 2021 - The first time I set foot in the office as a COVID baby, and how despite the lockdowns, we still achieved milestones.

Because it's a choice we have to make. Because there will be a recovery. And who knows what other wonders we will be able to accomplish when that time comes?

September 8, 2020 - I posted a job update here and on Facebook. But a more meaningful post for day 1 would have been this one before I joined:

I also photoshopped a mockup of what my LinkedIn profile could look like if I got hired, and hung it on my wall. This helped me visualise myself in the role, inspiring me everyday to prepare and to focus on the goal.

It would have been scary if Proclamation 1030, s.2020, which declared National Green Building Day, was signed on October 19, my birthday (it missed it by two days), but I no longer believe the alignment of National Green Building Day with my start date was a coincidence.

Just look at how active I am on social media (and this is just LinkedIn). There's no way that the Malacañang Palace, which declared National Green Building Day a month after I joined IFC, could have missed all that social media noise.

I'm kidding of course. Seriously, do you believe in divine intervention? So here's a timeline:

• April 2020: First job interview
• May: Received final offer, and they said they're willing to wait until I finish my masters
• September: Graduation, three cancelled flights

· 6th (Sunday): Returned home from Sydney

· 7th (Monday): Setting up and moving out of hotel isolation

· 8th (Tuesday): Officially started work.

• October: President Duterte declared September 8th as National Green Building Day.

The timing felt too perfect to be mere coincidence. It's a reminder to dedicate time for this important work, every workday. But was September 8th also meant to be a personal reminder to focus on self-care and well-being?

I've always been prompt with posting about my work anniversary on social media, but there are a couple of reasons why I'm posting a bit late for 2024.

1. News I've been expecting to hear: a three-peat!

I've been waiting for some news and it's finally arrived. We're again no. 1 and it's a three-peat. We're being inducted into the disaster hall of f̶a̶m̶e̶ shame.

Being at the top isn't always a good thing. As I predicted, the Philippines was again announced as the top country for three years running in terms of disaster risk, out of 193 countries, according to the World Risk Index 2024 rankings.

Another year at the top of the disaster rankings and the authors might create a disaster hall of fame just for us. I don't want to see the authors pull our country out of the rankings altogether, move it to a special place in the Executive Summary, and qualify all exhibits, graphs, tables, and charts as except for/excluding/outside the Philippines because of how much we skew their data.

Which is exactly what the authors did in the [Building Green] report, in recognition of China and their construction-related CO2 emissions.

While this news is sobering, it also serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of our work at IFC's Climate Business with EDGE Buildings, APEX Green Cities, and especially Building Resilience Index.

The second reason relates to all the backlog, both professional and personal, that I'm still trying to clear.

2. News I didn't expect to hear: burnout

I just have so much backlog because I was doing too much and because of some professional and personal issues I had repeatedly set aside. Just as the fiscal year was ending, I couldn't believe it. Burnout is real

Reflecting on my fourth anniversary at IFC, I'm also reminded that the journey toward a sustainable future begins with confronting challenges—whether they're global, professional, or personal—head-on. I'm going through counseling, and as I continue to improve everyday, I'm grateful for the kindness showed by people who, whether they knew it or not, offered support.

I'd like to mention two of them.

From a green buildings mentor

A mentor recently reminded me of the importance of personal sustainability. I've achieved a lot, but at great personal expense. But it made me realize two things:

1. How important this job is for me—it really has become my raison d'etre, my ikigai. I've found my purpose and calling; and
2. During the time that my personal sustainability suffered, I still delivered. It was my personal resilience that kicked in.

Working in international development, a deep sense of purpose, dedication, and passion often drives staff to push our limits, making us quite susceptible to burnout. The demanding nature of this work, coupled with exposure to challenging global issues such as climate change, can take a toll on even the most disciplined among us.

Of course, it's a spectrum, and there are some who manage to remain employed despite demonstrating minimal engagement or productivity, often referred to as quiet quitters experiencing boreout. They are there, straddling the precarious line, just at the threshold of minimal productivity while avoiding termination.

When you see those suffering from burnout, offer them support and understanding. They need it. However, it's best to avoid those from the second group, because their lack of engagement can have a ripple effect, negatively impacting team morale, project deadlines, and overall productivity, leading everyone to fail in the mission.

You cannot give what you don't have. Just as we strive to create a built environment that's resilient, green, and aspiring for net zero, we must also cultivate personal resilience, personal sustainability, and work-life balance.

Thanks, Raymond Rufino , for reminding me of personal sustainability.

From a green buildings mentee

I realized that if I wanted to thrive and not just survive, I needed to raise my own ambitions even further. And it was a mentee who reminded me that personal resilience isn't just about survival; it's about unlocking our unlimited potential for growth and regeneration.

Before I became accredited with EDGE, WELL, and LEED, my first ever professional accreditation is with the most stringent green building rating system in the world—the one that promotes regenerative design: Living Building Challenge. I'm the first Filipino to be Living Future Accredited (LFA) and I'm still on their website!

Thanks, Rapha Felipe , for reminding me of personal regeneration.

I realized that my entire career I've always raised my ambitions as high as I could. I was able to serve and lead teams to greater heights because of this growth mindset. My leadership inspires and empowers! It's this spirit of ambition and empowerment that has defined my leadership style. I'll share leadership lessons in the next article.

Regenerative buildings

What are regenerative buildings? Regenerative buildings are the top class of green buildings. If green buildings are better than brown buildings, and net zero buildings are those green buildings that give as much as they take, then regenerative buildings are those green buildings that give more than they take.

1. Regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community.
2. Self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site.
3. Create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.

Regenerative design is a holistic approach that goes beyond sustainability to actively restore and enhance ecosystems. It views the built environment not as separate from nature, but as an integral part of it, with the potential to heal and revitalize the planet.  

Imagine buildings that purify air and water, generate renewable energy, support biodiversity, and even sequester carbon. These aren't just pipe dreams; they're real possibilities with regenerative design.

To thrive and not just survive

There's more beyond green, net zero, and resilient. Just as I inspire and empower companies, large or small, to make climate pledges, can I ask you to take this pledge with me?

• I pledge to champion a shift from green to evergreen, actively nurturing and enhancing our natural world, not just doing less harm, but continuously seeking to do good. Personally, I commit to continuous learning and growth, ensuring that I am always evolving and contributing positively to the world around me.
• I pledge to strive beyond net zero to net positive, ensuring our actions actively contribute to the health of our planet and we give to Mother Nature more than what we take from her. In my own life, I will seek opportunities to not just reduce my impact but to actively give back and create positive change.
• I pledge to foster an evolution from resilience to antifragility, both in our built environment and in ourselves, so we not only withstand challenges but thrive and grow stronger because of them. I will embrace challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth, allowing setbacks to fuel my resilience and determination.

At IFC, I'm committed to creating impact by mobilizing private capital towards #SustainableBuiltEnvironment investments. But I'm also learning that true impact starts with personal sustainability. As we work together to build a better future for emerging markets, let's also remember to invest in ourselves.

It's about going beyond sustainability to become truly regenerative as individuals. After all, a sustainable world needs sustainable individuals to champion it. 🌱

1. Raising Ambitions toward Net Zero Buildings, Part 1 of 2
2. Raising Ambitions toward Net Zero Buildings, Part 2 of 2
3. ABCs of Net Zero Buildings with EDGE Zero Carbon, Part 1 of 3
4. ABCs of Net Zero Buildings with EDGE Zero Carbon, Part 2 of 3
5. ABCs of Net Zero Buildings with EDGE Zero Carbon, Part 3 of 3
6. Harmonizing Green & Resilient: The Case for Olive Green
7. Raising Ambitions Beyond Net Zero: The Case for Regeneration
8. From Ambitious Climate Commitments Into Credible Climate Action, Part 1
9. From Ambitious Climate Commitments Into Credible Climate Action, Part 2
10. Raising Ambitions and Accelerating Action through Women's Leadership