Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasizes the importance of circularity, sustainability, and resilience during the Climate Solutions Forum 2025: Scaling Circular Economy Solutions for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Growth held at Fairmont Makati.

MAKATI CITY – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) emphasized the crucial role of circular economy solutions in strengthening climate resilience, ensuring business continuity, and supporting sustainable economic growth during the Sustainable Forum segment of the Climate Solutions Forum 2025: Scaling Circular Economy Solutions for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Growth.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje stressed that building resilience requires moving away from “business as usual” and adopting a systemic approach that minimizes waste and loss and protects value across supply chains.

“We cannot do business as usual. Resilience is not how fast we rebuild, but how less we need to. That is where the circular economy matters. It is not only a sustainability ideal; it is a cradle-to-cradle design choice that keeps value in use and risk in check,” Borje said, emphasizing circularity as a practical and scalable strategy for resilience and competitiveness.

Borje further underscored that circularity must be driven by policy, partnerships, and innovation.

He cited government frameworks that guide this transition, such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Plan—all aimed at aligning design with data and ambition with execution.

Highlighting the policies under the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos that provide predictability and confidence for businesses and investors, Borje said, “our role at the Climate Change Commission is to help sustain that coherence: align science with policy, policy with implementation, and implementation with transparent reporting.” He added that credible data and consistent rules help lower risk and enable long-term investments.

Key leaders from government, the private sector, development partners, and civil society participated in the forum to advance discussions on policies, partnerships, and innovations that support the country’s transition toward a circular and climate-resilient economy. The event was organized by the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (SwissCham Philippines) during its Annual General Membership Meeting.

The CCC reaffirmed its commitment to work with industries, development partners, and local governments to scale circular economy models that reduce emissions, strengthen balance sheets and jobs, and build climate-resilient communities.