The Climate Change Commission (CCC) joined the “Walang Plastikan, Walang Iwanan!” Plastic-Free July 2026 activities, supporting collective action to reduce single-use plastics and promote sustainable consumption and production. MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) reinforced its commitment to scale up the drive against plastic pollution and engage government, civil society, and community partners in promoting sustainable consumption and production as the month-long observance of Plastic-Free July concluded. Anchored on the theme "Walang Plastikan, Walang Iwanan!," the campaign brought together government agencies, civil society organizations, youth groups, and communities to promote sustainable consumption and production, strengthen waste reduction efforts, and encourage climate-conscious lifestyles under the principle of a just transition that leaves no one behind. The Commission kicked off its participation by joining the "Walang Plastikan, Walang Iwanan! Takbuhan!" on July 26, an initiative designed to demonstrate that community sporting events can be organized without generating single-use plastic waste. It aimed to raise awareness on local plastic reduction policies and strengthen collaboration among local governments, civil society organizations, and communities. The activities culminated in the Arts, Culture, and Music Festival on July 31, where the CCC mounted an information booth to highlight its climate action initiatives and the "Bawal Plastik Dito" campaign. During the event, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje and Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera joined government and civil society leaders to pledge their full support for plastic reduction. “At the heart of this effort is a simple principle: walang iwanan. Solutions must be inclusive, ensuring that no community is left behind. Zero Waste is not just about reducing trash, it is about rethinking systems, values, and how we use resources,” Borje said. He added, “Through art, culture, and music, today’s celebration transforms awareness into action and inspires hope.“ Reaffirming reducing plastic pollution as a climate action, Herrera recognized these efforts as a shared responsibility. “Real transformation happens when governments, businesses, civil society, communities, artists, educators, and young people move together with a shared purpose. As we shift toward more sustainable systems and practices, we must ensure that no one is left behind, especially the communities, workers, and sectors most affected by both climate change and plastic pollution,” she said. The event featured interactive exhibits, community murals, cultural performances, reuse and refill demonstrations, workshops on circular living, and performances honoring environmental champions and communities affected by ecological hazards. The CCC, under the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasized that addressing plastic pollution reduces greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and communities affected by climate change. Plastic-Free July is a global movement that encourages millions of people worldwide to refuse single-use plastics and reduce waste generation. Through partnerships with organizations such as the EcoWaste Coalition, the CCC continues to advance whole-of-society approaches that encourage responsible consumption and production, support the transition to a circular economy, and reinforce climate action at the national and community levels. The CCC's participation formed part of its continuing "Bawal Plastik Dito" campaign, which supports the national drive to reduce single-use plastics, promote ecologically sound alternatives, and mainstream climate change and environmental sustainability across sectors. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.
MANILA, Philippines – At the National Climate Resilience Forum (NCRF) 2026, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) convened national leaders and key stakeholders to localize climate action and strengthen resilience. Reinforcing that climate action remains a national priority under the vision and guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan-Tiuseco emphasized the government’s commitment to proactive and inclusive resilience-building. “The government’s responsibility must be to anticipate dangers, strengthen communities, protect livelihoods, and ensure that no Filipino faces calamity alone. And this administration has pursued exactly that.” CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the increasing urgency to respond to intensifying climate impacts, noting that these are reshaping how resilience and development must be pursued. “Climate change is reshaping the conditions under which resilience must now be built. And because resilience is inseparable from development, it is also reshaping the conditions under which our nation must grow and prosper. Our task now is to build upon these foundations—with discipline, with purpose, and with the shared understanding that resilience is not someone else’s responsibility. It belongs to all of us.” As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, the Philippines continues to face serious risks from extreme weather events, sea-level rise, food insecurity, water stress, and climate-induced displacement. These challenges underscore the urgency of translating national climate policies into concrete, on-the-ground action. CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera underscored the importance of moving from planning to implementation, stressing that the forum serves as a platform to operationalize climate strategies at the local level. “Our objective is clear: to translate national policies into context-specific, investment-ready, and scalable climate action where it matters most—in our communities.” The forum featured panel discussions and breakout sessions that highlighted practical and scalable solutions, climate finance opportunities, resilience measurement systems, and science- and data-driven planning tools to support local governments in building climate resilience. Senator Loren Legarda urged local government units to take a more active role in implementing climate strategies on the ground. “To our local chief executives and planners: the success of our national climate strategies depends on how they are carried out at the local level. Climate resilience must be reflected in your land use plans, annual investments, and infrastructure decisions.” Stakeholders across sectors showed support and echoed the need to translate climate commitments into concrete outcomes. Representative Aniela Bianca D. Tolentino, Chair of the House Committee on Climate Change, stressed the importance of implementation. “Plans alone cannot make communities resilient. Ang tunay na sukatan ng tagumpay ay hindi kung gaano kaganda ang ating mga plano, kundi paano natin ito naipapatupad sa ating mga komunidad.” Cong. Jose Manuel F. Alba, Representative of the First District of Bukidnon, also underscored urgency in delivering results. “History will not judge us by the plans we write, but by the lives we save. Let this forum be the line in the sand where rhetoric ends, and decisive action begins.” Ms. Kyungsun Kim, country representative of UNICEF Philippines, emphasized measuring adaptation through real impacts. “Let us ensure that climate adaptation is measured, not only planned in budget, but in healthier children, stronger communities, more resilient families and greater opportunities for the next generation.” H.E. Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Philippines, reaffirmed Germany’s support. “Germany has been and will continue to be a strong and reliable partner for the Philippines in climate action and in strengthening your country’s resilience.” Mr. Jonas Tetangco of Catholic Relief Services Philippines underscored partnerships for community-based solutions. “Catholic Relief Services remains committed to partnering with communities, local governments, national government agencies, and development partners to advance nature-based solutions, climate-smart livelihoods, watershed protection, and ecosystem restoration.” Mr. Hermilando I. Mandanas, Secretary-General of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and Vice Governor of Batangas, called for stronger commitment to local resilience. “Together, I think we should again reinstate, revitalize, and really fortify our commitment in making our country resilient and really able to meet the challenges that really exist in our country.” Anchored on the theme “Bagong Bansang Matatag, Handa sa Pagbabago ng Klima,” the NCRF 2026 served as a platform to strengthen alignment between national frameworks—including the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050 and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP)—and their implementation at the local level. Booth exhibits showcased climate action initiatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and the private sector. The NCRF 2026 was held with the support of the key partners, including the Philippine Red Cross, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, International Organization for Migration, Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF Philippines, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Expertise France, with participation both onsite and through livestream via the CCC’s official Facebook page. The forum brought together nearly 500 participants, including representatives from local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), civil society organizations (CSOs), the academe and state universities and colleges (SUCs), development partners, embassies, international organizations, the private sector, and the media, among other stakeholders. Participating NGAs included the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH) - Health and Climate Change Office, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD)-Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Central Office-Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Unit, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bureau of Local Government Development, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy-Environment Management Service (BARMM), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), National Youth Commission (NYC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). Panelists also included representatives from DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which further enriched discussions through their sectoral expertise and experience. This reflects a whole-of-government approach to strengthening climate resilience and accelerating climate action nationwide. The CCC remains committed to advance climate action, strengthen resilience from the ground up, and continue to address climate change through a whole-of-society and whole-of-nation approach. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl
Read the full statement of the Vice Chairperson and Executive Director on The Philippines' Reclassification as an Upper-Middle Income Country
Members of the Philippine Delegation (PhilDel) from the Climate Change Commission (CCC) participated in discussions on climate finance at the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to call for stronger support for vulnerable countries. BONN, Germany — The Philippines called for stronger implementation of climate finance commitments and greater support for developing countries as negotiations concluded at the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Delivering the country’s closing statement, Climate Change Commission (CCC) Commissioner and Head of Delegation Atty. Rachel Anne S. Herrera underscored the need for climate commitments to translate into concrete action and resilience, particularly for countries vulnerable to the climate crisis. The Philippines highlighted climate finance as a key priority, expressing concern over declining pledges and shifting priorities that threaten the sustainability of international climate finance institutions. The country called for new, additional, predictable, and scaled-up public finance from developed countries to support developing nations' adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage efforts. Herrera said, “We express serious concern about the increasingly unpredictable state of climate finance, including reductions in pledges, and shifting priorities that threaten the sustainability and operations of the institutions that we have agreed to establish.” “We call for new, additional, predictable, and scaled up public finance from developed country Parties to support the GEF [Global Environment Facility], GCF [Green Climate Fund], AF [Adaptation Fund], and FRLD [Fund for responding to Loss and Damage]. As these funding windows are replenished, contributions must reflect the increasing needs of developing country Parties in adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage,” she added. The country's position has built on priorities advanced by the Philippine Delegation (PhilDel) throughout SB64, including calls to strengthen outcomes under the Climate Finance Work Programme and to ensure that agreements reached under the UNFCCC process deliver action at the scale and speed required by current realities, especially for vulnerable countries and communities. At the opening of the negotiations, the Philippines emphasized that climate commitments must translate into measurable action, and urged Parties to advance progress on climate finance, adaptation, and implementation support. The country also stressed that climate action must remain anchored in the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Throughout SB64, delegates from the Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Foreign Affairs actively participated in workshops and negotiations on climate finance, transparency, adaptation, and agriculture and food security. The delegation engaged in discussions under the Climate Finance Work Programme, where representatives highlighted the importance of ensuring that the programme's scope, format, and modalities effectively support its intended mandate. The PhilDel also participated in discussions on financial and technical support for developing countries under the Enhanced Transparency Framework, and in an Interactive Dialogue to ensure that climate finance mechanisms promote gender equity. Meanwhile, the CCC shared the Philippines' experience in preparing its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) using domestic resources while securing support for future transparency reporting requirements, demonstrating the country's commitment to strengthening climate transparency and accountability. The Philippines is participating in international negotiations such as SB64, working closely with the Group of 77 (G77), to advance national priorities. These activities serve to drive President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s agenda on climate resilience and sustainable development, while advocating for climate justice, equity, and stronger support for developing countries, particularly in climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, and capacity-building. Held from June 8 to 18 in Bonn, Germany, SB64 served as a key platform for technical negotiations under the UNFCCC, helping lay the groundwork for decisions to be taken at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) later this year. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming and other activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.
Members of the Philippine Delegation delivered interventions at the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany. Throughout the negotiations, the Philippines advanced country-driven and inclusive approaches to climate action across key agenda items, including mitigation, just transition, Article 6 cooperative approaches, climate and trade, and the implementation of Global Stocktake outcomes. BONN, Germany — The Philippines pushed for country-driven and inclusive approaches to climate action as discussions on mitigation, just transition pathways, cooperative approaches under Article 6 and the implementation of Global Stocktake outcomes at the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Throughout the negotiations, the Philippine delegation voiced the importance of ensuring that climate action supports sustainable development, addressing the needs and priorities of individual countries, and providing developing nations with the support they need through finance, technology, and capacity-building. “Climate action must be ambitious, equitable, and responsive to national realities. As a developing country highly vulnerable to climate impacts, the Philippines continues to advocate for solutions that strengthen resilience, advance sustainable development, and ensure that no country is left behind in the transition to a low-carbon future,” said Head of Delegation and Climate Change Commission (CCC) Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera. In discussions under the United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme, the Philippines advocated for nationally determined and demand-driven approaches that recognize countries’ differing circumstances and development priorities. The country highlighted the importance of ensuring that just transition efforts are supported by accessible finance, technology, and capacity-building, while promoting inclusive participation and equitable socioeconomic outcomes. The Philippines further advanced developing-country priorities in negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which underscored the need for stable, predictable, and transparent support mechanisms that will enable broader participation in cooperative approaches and strengthen implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). During discussions on the Mitigation Work Programme and implementation of Global Stocktake outcomes, the Philippines stressed that climate ambition must be accompanied by practical means of implementation and aligned with national development goals. The delegation emphasized that translating Global Stocktake outcomes into action requires approaches that reflect each country's needs, challenges, and development goals. In discussions on climate and trade, the members of the delegation emphasized that climate policies should not create new barriers to trade or place additional burdens on developing countries. They consistently highlighted the preservation of nationally determined approaches, protection of food security, and the importance of ensuring that climate policies support rather than constrain sustainable development. “The transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions future must be fair, inclusive, and supportive of development aspirations. International cooperation should empower countries to implement climate action in ways that reflect their unique needs and priorities,” Herrera said. Beyond the negotiations, the Philippine delegation participated in key events, including the Annual Global Stocktake Dialogue, discussions on cooperation toward the second Global Stocktake between ASEAN and Japan, and high-level exchanges on transparency, implementation, and climate action delivery. Through active participation in SB64 negotiations and related dialogues, the Philippines advanced positions that promote equity, resilience, and sustainable development across key areas of the climate agenda. According to CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, the Philippine delegation is guided by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 's call for climate action that protects lives, livelihoods, and development gains. The country remains committed to working with fellow developing nations to advance science-based and development-oriented solutions that respond to the needs of the most vulnerable while supporting inclusive and sustainable growth. The SB64 dialogues, held from June 8 to 18, 2026 in Bonn, Germany, served as a key platform for advancing technical negotiations and preparing decisions for consideration at the next UN Climate Change Conference. The Philippines maintains its commitment to work with the international community to advance climate action that improves lives, strengthens communities, and helps build a better future for generations to come.
