The Climate Change Commission, in partnership with civil society organizations and key allies from the private sector, prepares for the upcoming 62nd Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) and the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) international climate negotiations.

Manila, Philippines | 11 June 2025 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Tuesday convened a multi-sectoral consultation with representatives from civil society, grassroots organizations, social movements, international NGOs, and private sector to further strengthen climate action through participatory climate governance.

The gathering took place a year after the official launch of WE CAN (Working to Empower Climate Action Network), the CCC’s institutionalized engagement mechanism with civil society organizations (CSOs). This initiative marked a major shift in how the government engages non-state stakeholders, transitioning from ad hoc consultations to a formal Civil Society Assembly to ensure consistent, inclusive, and strategic collaboration.

“Today’s assembly reflects a deepening of our partnership with civil society,” said CCC Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. “We are proud of the progress we have made, but we are even more committed to closing the remaining gaps. With WE CAN, we move from episodic engagement to a sustainable, structured platform that will help shape both local impact and global climate positioning.”

Since 2022, the CCC has worked with 47 CSOs, many of which serve as umbrella organizations with extensive grassroots networks. In 2023 and 2024, the Commission formalized engagements with six CSOs and eight academic institutions to strengthen cooperation in priority areas. These include capacity building for climate governance, climate impact assessment, local resilience planning, knowledge sharing, policy development, gender mainstreaming, and local climate risk profiling.

Similarly, the CCC is working closely with the private sector, particularly in Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) capacity building workshops, business leadership through climate thematic discussions, and climate campaigning.

Addressing the private sector present, Borje stated, “You are present in communities that host your operations. Your value chains are a main artery that brings a critical lifeline to your business. And to this, we challenge you: raise your business ambition towards a future that builds the resilience of your communities and value chains. Position your communities to lead and thrive in a carbon-free economy – a green, resilient, and sustainable future.”

Beatriz Anne C. Faustino, Chief of the Strategic Partnership Division, emphasized the indispensable role of partnerships in effectively confronting the climate crisis.

“The government cannot do it alone. A whole-of-society approach is necessary, one that brings together various sectors to collaborate on strategies and policy development,” she said.

“For instance, CSOs amplify the voices of communities, particularly those at the grassroots level who are among the most vulnerable.” She also underscored that this collaborative approach helps ensure that each sector receives interventions that are targeted and tailored to its specific needs.

Civil society and the private sector also played a key role in the development of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP), both completed last year. The NAP supports local government units in integrating climate resilience into land use planning and financing, driven in large part to civil society’s advocacy for grassroots inclusion. The NDCIP, meanwhile, serves as the country’s roadmap for meeting its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The CCC emphasized the dual focus of its strategy: achieving downstream impact through local interventions and upstream influence in international climate negotiations.

“The fight for climate justice starts in our communities, but it is validated and elevated through our stance on the global stage,” Borje added.

At the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, more than 20 CSOs engaged in sustained dialogue with the Philippine Delegation, marking a first in the Commission’s history of international engagement. These dialogues underscored the need for more inclusive and transparent negotiation processes, which WE CAN aims to institutionalize.

WE CAN serves as the CCC’s official contact group and joint platform for engagement with civil society. It is a co-convened body, where the CCC provides strategic direction while CSOs contribute technical know-how and community-driven interventions aligned with the NAP and NDCIP.

The gathering came at a crucial time as the country prepares for the 62nd Sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) in Bonn, Germany and 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belem, Brazil.

Representatives from 20 CSOs and private sector attended the consultation at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), including Aksyon Klima, Oxfam Pilipinas, Arise, and SGV. Meanwhile, 34 joined virtually, including Ayala Corporation, First Gen, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Miriam College, Green Peace, Parabukas, and Catholic Relief Services Philippines.

“Through WE CAN, we aim to ensure that the voice of every Filipino is heard — and that no one is left behind as we work toward a just and equitable climate future,” Borje said. “To our civil society and private sector partners, challenge us, the government, to consistently provide you the investment and regulatory environment you need for you to deliver on this ambition successfully,” he added.

For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.