The Climate Change Commission joined the consultation led by the United Nations Development Programme with the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion sector to ensure that inclusivity and diverse perspectives are reflected in updating the Nationally Determined Contribution of the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) convened key stakeholders to reaffirm and strengthen the integration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which outlines the country’s strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience as part of global efforts to limit temperature rise and mitigate climate impacts.

Aligned with the country’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the NDC Implementation Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) principle of "Leave No One Behind,” the CCC, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a series of regional consultations.

These consultations, supported by the Philippine Commission on Women, National Council on Disability Affairs, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, aimed to ensure that the voices of vulnerable groups—who are disproportionately affected by climate change—are meaningfully represented in national climate policies.

The discussions focused on six key sectors: agriculture, waste, industrial processes and product use (IPPU), transportation, forestry, and energy.

CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera emphasized that while vulnerable groups face heightened risks to their livelihoods, health, and safety, they also play a vital role in driving transformative climate action and are powerful agents of change whose contributions can make our NDC more effective.

Herrera said the GEDSI approach allows sectors to articulate their unique needs and vulnerabilities, thereby ensuring that national climate actions effectively respond to local contexts.

In Metro Manila, participants co-developed recommendations to strengthen policy and implementation measures. They called for community-scale renewable energy projects such as solar and micro-hydro in Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) areas, improved accessibility of transport fleets and terminals, and urban agriculture, including rooftop and school gardens to cut food costs and support key relevant sectors and stakeholders.

For waste and industry, they pushed for neighborhood circular economy practices, segregation at source, composting, and small-scale upcycling enterprises—linking composting to gardens and schools to close local loops and promote sustainability.

In Baguio City, communities urged stronger support for farmers in agriculture and forestry, capacity building for vulnerable sectors to climate change, and greater empowerment of grassroots communities. They also recommended policies on surplus food management and wider adoption of organic farming to aid the waste and industry sectors. For transport and energy, participants proposed assistive devices for PWDs and improved access to financial resources, such as the Peoples’ Survival (PSF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF).

In Bacolod City, participants prioritized scaling up renewable energy investments and capacity-building initiatives, as well as designing inclusive transport systems that consider marginalized sectors. They also called for reforestation using endemic fruit species and the strengthening of community-based forest management. For waste and industry, participants emphasized the need for financial and technical support to LGUs for establishing waste management facilities and food processing centers for IP farmers.

In Cagayan de Oro City, participants shared practical recommendations across the sectors of waste, transportation and energy, agriculture, and forestry. These include sustained cleanup and information drives, waste-to-resource initiatives, and incentives for composting.

They also suggested reviewing coal plant operations for compliance, promoting solar energy in shared spaces, and providing electricity discounts for persons with disabilities. For agriculture and forestry, participants emphasized inclusive training for farmers, stronger participation of marginalized and Indigenous communities, and support for non-timber livelihood programs.

Meanwhile, Floradema Eleazar, Head of the Climate Action Programme of UNDP Philippines, underscored the organization’s continued commitment.

“UNDP reaffirms its strong support for the Government of the Philippines’ leadership in integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion in the country’s NDC process. We believe that climate action is most effective when everyone has a voice."

The consultations gathered participants from diverse backgrounds, ensuring gender balance and inclusive representation across priority groups. These included women’s organizations, civil society organizations, youth leaders, student organizations, persons with disability organizations, indigenous peoples, and older persons living in poverty.

Through these dialogues, the Philippines continues to emphasize that inclusive climate action, grounded in the perspectives of marginalized and vulnerable groups, is essential in achieving a just and equitable transition toward a climate-resilient and sustainable future.

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