Antalya: The Philippines is spearheading the development of a coordinated climate change statement on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in anticipation of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), which is scheduled to take place at the Antalya Expo Center in Antalya, Turkey, in November.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the ASEAN Climate Week (ACW) 2026 launch in Taguig City on Monday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna announced that a draft of the statement is currently being distributed to ASEAN member states for feedback and contributions. Cuna emphasized the Philippines' pivotal role in crafting this joint statement, highlighting that the nation is actively awaiting feedback from other ASEAN countries to finalize the document.
The proposed statement aims to encapsulate shared regional priorities and reaffirm commitments to crucial climate issues. Cuna outlined that the statement will cover various aspects such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans, loss and damage, climate financing, and the just transition, reflecting the entire region's unified stance ahead of COP31.
Convened under the Philippines' ASEAN 2026 Chairship and co-organized with the Asian Development Bank, the ASEAN Climate Week 2026 serves as a platform for ASEAN countries to convert their updated NDCs into actionable programs and investments. Cuna underscored the importance of implementation, stressing the need to transform commitments into actionable policies, programs, and investment-ready projects that yield tangible results for the populace.
DENR Undersecretary Annaliza Rebuelta-Teh highlighted the event's objectives, which include accelerating NDC implementation, expanding climate and biodiversity finance, bolstering regional cooperation on loss and damage, and enhancing institutional capacity through dialogue, technical exchanges, and training. The event is set to produce three significant outputs: a Chair's Summary, a consolidated report with policy recommendations for ASEAN collaboration, and a compendium documenting member states' experiences and best practices.
The week-long program features a series of thematic sessions, starting with an opening forum on advancing NDC implementation and biodiversity-climate linkages. Discussions will cover climate and biodiversity financing, with partners such as the Asian Development Bank, Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, C40 Cities, and the United Nations Development Programme. The event will also include a knowledge exchange on loss and damage with risk management training and sessions on climate-economy modeling for planning and investment. A notable highlight is a scheduled signing of a Philippines-Singapore carbon market implementation agreement.
Spanning from April 27 to May 1, the event is anticipated to conclude with a forum on expanding climate finance flows in Southeast Asia. As part of the Philippine government's austerity measures, all sessions will be held virtually.
The ASEAN Climate Week 2026 draws participation from all 11 ASEAN member states, including ministers, senior officials, technical agencies, civil society, and private sector representatives, aiming to align regional strategies and expedite effective climate action. Alongside the Philippines, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
