Climate action is a collective responsibility that demands the commitment of every sector. In response, the CCC has tirelessly forged partnerships with civil society organizations, the private sector, and the academe.
When I learned back in 2009 that Senator Loren Legarda was pursuing a bill that would create the Climate Change Commission (CCC), I asked myself why it was necessary to create such an institution, considering that a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was in existence. After reading about the work of the CCC, I got the answer to my question.
Although the word ‘environment’ forms part of its name and climate is very much a part of the environment, the DENR has done comparatively little in the domain of climate change and that the bulk of the climate-change mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (enhancing resilience to climate impacts) work has been done by CCC.
Reading the CCC report, I learned for the first time about the numerous projects and measures that CCC has been quietly pursuing in furtherance of climate mitigation and adaptation. For indeed, the climate crisis is more than just an environmental issue. It is a development, economic, social justice, and human rights issue that cuts across every aspect of our lives. It affects food security, public health, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the very sustainability of our communities — those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, who are often the least responsible for the crisis yet have the least access to interventions and financial support.
In 2021, the Philippines submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – a commitment of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction and avoidance of 75 percent from 2020 to 2030 – to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
With the finalization last year of the NDC Implementation Plan (NDCIP), the Philippines has, for the first time, a more tangible path forward in meeting its international commitment. The NDCIP serves as a roadmap for achieving national climate goals—encompassing both mitigation and adaptation.
Fundamental to the success of the NDCIP is the GHG Inventory, which serves as a baseline for guiding mitigation actions, tracking progress and ensuring transparency and accountability in emissions-reporting under international obligations. CCC has submitted the 2015 and 2020 GHG inventories, and is in the process of working on the 2024 inventory. These inventories embody computations of net emissions across key sectors – agriculture, energy, transportation and waste, industrial processes and product use (IPPU) and land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
Also last year, the CCC led the development of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and made the Philippines one of the first ASEAN countries to submit a NAP to the UNFCCC. NAP establishes fit-for-purpose interventions grounded in scientific data and risk-based methodologies. CCC has been working to embed the NAP into national and local governance. Every government agency has been directed to align its plans with the NAP, and every barangay is expected to translate guidance into action on the ground.
To this end, CCC has worked relentlessly to help local government units (LGUs) with their Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans (LCCAPs). To date, nine out of 10 LGUs have LCCAPs. CCC has been providing additional technical support to particularly vulnerable communities, i.e., communities along coastal areas and in the uplands and geographically isolated barangays.
These communities are often the ones with no access to technical support and financing. They are given a lifeline through the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), established as an amendment to the Climate Change Act of 2009 (through RA 10174). The PSF provides funding to support local adaptation plans, with an annual funding window of P1 billion.
To enable more LGUs to benefit from the fund, CCC has worked diligently with the Department of Finance to streamline the application process, making it easier for LGUs to access the resources. Additionally, the PSF Board ensures representation from civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector to promote transparency and inclusivity.
The PSF has fully utilized its initial P1-billion allocation, benefiting 19 LGUs, and aims to disburse the rest of the next P1 billion this year to support more communities, with hopes for replenishment to sustain and expand its impact.
Climate-related funding for 2025 increased by a remarkable 152 percent compared to 2024, according to data from the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) system. The allocation amounts to P1.156 trillion—equivalent to 18.27 percent of the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) for FY2025. Yet, tagging alone is not enough. In close coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the CCC is working to ensure that CCET evolves beyond a fiscal transparency tool into a system that promotes accountability and participatory governance throughout the climate budgeting process.
Climate action is a collective responsibility that demands the commitment of every sector. In response, the CCC has tirelessly forged partnerships with civil society organizations, the private sector, and the academe—creating dynamic and inclusive pathways that ensure every voice and every stakeholder is actively engaged in the urgent fight against climate change.
Oddly enough, the individual who now leads the CCC as its Vice Chairperson and Executive Director is not a scientist by training, but a seasoned diplomat. Robert E.A. Borje, a career Foreign Service Officer, could have taken the path of an ambassador. Instead, he chose to help turn into reality the vision behind Senator Loren Legarda’s pioneering Climate Change Act. In this role, he has brought thoughtful stewardship and a deep commitment to public service—working closely with a dedicated team of scientists, policy specialists, development professionals, and staff. Together, they are helping shape a more climate-smart, climate-resilient Philippines—not only for today’s citizens but for generations to come—with every policy implemented, every partnership forged, every project launched, and every community transformed.
