Manila: The Climate Change Commission (CCC) convened over 200 stakeholders on March 26 to refine the Philippines' updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to climate action ahead of its submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje underscored the importance of the consultation in ensuring coherence and readiness for implementation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Borje emphasized that the NDC reflects a comprehensive approach involving a whole-of-government alignment in policy and planning, a whole-of-economy approach to analysis and the mobilization of investment and systems, and a whole-of-society engagement that grounds and validates the actions. The draft NDC 2026 text, developed by national government agencies, was presented to stakeholders from civil society organizations, marginalized groups, academia, the private sector, and development partners. The consultation aimed to validate its clarity and technical soundness and to identify remaining gaps ahead of submission.
Borje further noted that the updated NDC integrates elements that enable delivery-just transition considerations, strengthened climate finance, and other means of implementation, nature-based solutions, and more robust systems for transparency and monitoring. CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera stated that the consultation inputs would be reviewed and reflected in the final text, highlighting that the direction being taken is tested against real conditions on the ground and shaped by the people and institutions who will help implement it.
John Leo Algo of Aksyon Klima, a civil society organization, remarked on the progress in transparency and inclusivity during this year's NDC consultations. He noted that more consultations were held by the CCC and other agencies nationwide, and civil society also conducted its own to ensure broader input in policymaking. He suggested improvements such as more timely communications and feedback on stakeholder inputs but acknowledged the steps toward a 'whole-of-society' approach to climate action.
The NDC serves as the country's roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate action. In its 2021 submission, the Philippines committed to a projected 75 percent reduction in emissions from 2020 to 2030, covering key sectors like energy, transport, industrial processes and product use, waste, forest and other land use, and agriculture, each led by respective government departments.
The NDC 2026 is co-led by the CCC and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with national government agencies and development partners. It aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s priorities for a climate-smart and climate-resilient Philippines, supporting the country's transition toward low-carbon development, strengthened climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth.
