The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Climate Change Commission (CCC), and their development partners are set to hold a forum on support mechanisms needed to propel the country’s climate efforts.

Close to 90 representatives from various development and financial institutions and key government agencies involved in sustainable development and climate resilience are expected to participate in the Development Partners’ Roundtable on Climate Action to be held on June 20, 2024, at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

The forum is being organized by the DENR and the CCC in collaboration with the Department of Finance and the National Economic and Development Authority, and in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of United Kingdom through its embassy in Manila.

Central to the discussion will be the Philippines’ climate efforts—as guided by the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP)—and mobilizing financing and technical support for their implementation.

The World Bank estimates that climate change impacts in a disaster-prone country like the Philippines could eat up to 7.6 percent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, increasing to as high as 13.6 percent by 2040. Further, developing countries would need around US$387 billion annually to finance priority adaptation measures.

In the forum, participating government entities will be able to present their priorities, identify gaps, and highlight opportunities and approaches to address these gaps.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, as official representative of the President to the CCC, will deliver the keynote message. She is expected to highlight the country’s ongoing climate efforts.

Among these are updating the country’s NDC, crafting policies on carbon markets and pricing instruments, making progress on the National Just Transition Framework, as well as building climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in Mindanao.

The enactment of Republic Act No. 11995, or the Philippine Ecosystems and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act, will also be cited as a significant milestone and concrete strategy to encourage targeted investments as the country moves to integrate natural capital accounting into its economic plans.

The Philippines presented its NDCIP and NAP during the 28th Conference of Parties held in Dubai in late 2023, and in a Cabinet meeting with the President last January 2024.###