The government will push for grant-based adaptation funding, technology transfer and easier access to loss and damage support, amid criticism over its continued reliance on fossil fuels.
The Philippines will seek stronger international partnerships and increased climate financing at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, to address the economic impact of extreme weather events, including extreme heat, typhoons and flooding.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said climate change was already affecting the livelihoods, homes and safety of millions of Filipino families.
“For millions of Filipino families, climate change is not a distant policy debate. It is an everyday reality affecting their livelihoods, homes, and safety,” Cuna said in a statement.
The DENR said the economic cost of climate inaction in the Philippines could reach 645 billion pesos ($11.1 billion) annually in the 2030s.
At COP31, Cuna said the Philippines would reaffirm its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2035.
The country is also seeking a four- to five-year extension of the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Work Programme to strengthen links between emissions reduction targets, climate financing and technology transfer, according to the DENR.
The Philippines will also push for grant-based funding to support the implementation of its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Adaptation Investment Platform without increasing the debt burden of developing countries.
The government will further seek to ensure that all emissions reductions achieved in the country are credited towards its national climate targets.
It will also call for simplified procedures and direct access to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to ensure that disaster-stricken communities benefit from climate assistance.
“As we head into COP31, the Philippines is working towards building constructive international partnerships that back ambitious climate pledges with predictable, accessible financial and technical support so that local communities receive the protection they urgently need,” Cuna said.
However, environmental groups have questioned the government’s climate commitments, citing its continued reliance on coal and fossil gas, support for waste-to-energy projects and other policies they say undermine environmental protection.
Climate Action Tracker has warned that existing Philippine policies could allow emissions to continue rising through 2030, while the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has called for stronger measures to reduce emissions.
Environmental organisations have also raised concerns about Cuna’s environmental record, including his involvement in the Canadian garbage controversy. Criminal charges against him were dismissed in 2021.
The groups have urged the DENR to prioritise renewable energy, ecosystem protection and stronger environmental safeguards alongside its efforts to secure international climate financing.
