By Kenneth Marcos 
In a bright conference hall filled with government officials, scientists, and civil society representatives, the Philippines is taking decisive steps to strengthen its climate commitments. The Climate Change Commission (CCC) recently held a key stakeholder consultation to prepare the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2025 submission, ensuring that climate action aligns with national priorities and local realities.
The consultation focused on presenting indicative overall and sectoral commitments under the NDC 2025, seeking feedback from a wide range of stakeholders to make the targets actionable and inclusive.
Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who serves as the Official Representative of the President to the CCC, stressed the importance of updating the NDC based on current economic realities, sectoral growth, and improved emissions data. “To deliver on the NDC, we continue to fortify our monitoring, reporting, and verification systems so that we can measure progress, identify gaps, and refine policies as needed,” he said.
CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje highlighted that the updating process is not just about setting targets on paper. “By linking our natural ecosystems with energy, transport, industry, and agriculture, we are creating a roadmap that turns ambition into action, building a resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive future,” Borje said.
Sectoral agencies—including DENR, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and Department of Agriculture—presented mitigation pathways, policies and measures, sectoral targets, and potential opportunities for emissions reduction. These presentations revealed the challenges ahead and underscored the need for strong cooperation between national and local governments, the private sector, and development partners.
In breakout sessions, participants from government, civil society, academe, local government units, and development partners engaged in open discussions. They emphasized the need for practical and achievable targets, including renewable energy deployment, sustainable transport systems, natural ecosystem protection, food security, nature-based solutions, waste management, and support for local governments leading climate action on the ground.
The CCC noted that insights from these consultations will help finalize NDC 2025, ensuring it reflects a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The aim is to strengthen national unity, enhance legitimacy, and ensure that climate commitments translate into tangible actions that contribute to the global 1.5°C goal.
By involving all sectors of society, the Philippines demonstrates that climate action is a shared responsibility—one that requires collective resolve to achieve real and lasting outcomes for communities and the environment.
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