Coordinating national climate change action

Philippines, East Asia and Pacific

Over the years, the Philippines has significantly overhauled its climate policy framework, from a number of stand-alone laws passed during 1997-2008, to the current comprehensive, nationally integrated climate policy architecture guided by the 2009 Climate Change Act (CCA).

The CCA calls for the systematic integration of climate change in various phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies, and other development tools used by all government agencies and departments. It also led to the establishment of the Philippines Climate Change Commission (CCC) for coordinating policy integration. Subsequently, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) strategically established the Philippines’ first long-term climate agenda from 2011–2028, divided into three six-year phases. The duration of these phases coincides with the terms of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the Philippines’ electoral and planning cycles.

The Philippines is a good example of political leadership and long-term vision for comprehensive and integrated climate policy demonstrated through: (a) the fact that the origins of climate policy initiatives are rooted in the national democratic movement which led to change in the political structure of the country; (b) substantial budgetary support despite financial constraints; and (c) the proactive approach to consult and take help in both improving the policies as well as implementing them from international agencies.

Impact of activities
  • Integration of adaptation: within the overall goal of low-carbon, climate smart development marking a paradigmatic shift away from disaster response to prevention (CCC 2011).
  • Initiation of many low emission capacity building projects, programmes and activities: Enhancing Capacities for Low Emission Development Strategies (USAID); Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB)- Philippines project (EU, Australia and Germany through UNDP); The Regional Capacity Building Project for Sustainable GHG Management Systems in South East Asia-Phase II (US and UNFCCC); Eco-town demonstration project (GGGI, GIZ, USAID, ADB); Clean Energy (USAID/IRG); Momentum for Low Carbon Development (Germany BMU); Carbon Footprint in transport (AFD); and NAMA in the waste sector (GIZ).
  • Development of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system: Although the M&E system is not operational yet, its development has already started to show positive impacts such as the involvement of different sectoral agencies in how far their sector based M&E systems already reflect climate change issues (gap analysis) and exploration of the needs to better connect different government performance monitoring systems and harmonise indicators (Gaddi & Balota, 2013). Overall, the Philippines have come up with a comprehensive GHG Inventory Implementation Plan.
  • Integration into mainstream development strategy: Even though the PDP was launched as the NCCAP was still being developed, five chapters in the PDP include extensive discussions on climate change. Since both plans are scheduled for updates in mid-2013, an opportunity exists for improved alignment.
Institutions involved
  • Climate Change Commission (CCC)
  • People’s Survival Fund Board (PSFB)
  • Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
  • House of Representatives Ecological Committee
  • National Disaster Reduction and Management Council (NDRMC)
  • National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
  • National Council on Sustainable Development; Local Government Units (LGU)
Source details
Global Good Practice Analysis (GIZ UNDP)
Links