MANILA, Philippines — The beginning of a year typically ushers renewed hope, and I believe that there is much to be hopeful for. The recently concluded COP28 held in Dubai signaled the “beginning of the end” for the fossil fuel era. For the first time ever, signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) penned an agreement to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” The parties also agreed to the tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. This puts the onus on UNFCCC signatory nations, which includes the Philippines, to set ambitious goals and initiatives to shift energy systems from fossil fuel to renewables, and help attain the 1.5-degree temperature limit.