At the ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit 2026, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscores the need to shift ASEAN–EU climate cooperation from policy alignment to implementation, emphasizing the urgency of delivering concrete, measurable results on the ground.

CEBU CITY, Philippines | 07 May 2026 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the need to strengthen implementation systems and address persistent delivery gaps in climate action, emphasizing that ASEAN–EU cooperation must move beyond policy alignment and shift to achieving concrete results on the ground.

Speaking at the ASEAN–EU Sustainability Summit 2026 in Cebu, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje stressed the urgency of translating climate commitments into measurable outcomes.

“Now is a time for us to take a few steps back and to look at what the gaps and challenges are. Because truthfully, the challenge for us is really delivering on the ground and implementation,” Borje said.

The inaugural ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit, held on 7 May 2026 as an official side event of the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, convened key leaders from government, business, and development institutions to advance regional sustainability and resilience, as part of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship.

Borje noted that while ASEAN Member States continue to strengthen climate ambition through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and other regional frameworks, the challenge now lies in moving consistently from policymaking to implementation and assessment.

He identified three major gaps that continue to constrain climate action delivery across ASEAN: institutional coordination across sectors, ministries, and levels of government; implementation capacity at scale, particularly at the subnational level where execution happens; and project preparation and execution readiness for resilience investments.

“Climate resilience cuts across sectors, ministries, and levels of government, and our delivery systems are still catching up to that reality,” Borje said, adding that implementation support at scale remains critical across ASEAN Member States and local governments.

The CCC emphasized that these challenges should also be viewed as opportunities to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN, the European Union (EU), governments, development partners, and the private sector in accelerating practical and scalable climate solutions.

Borje underscored the importance of adopting a whole-of-society approach, recognizing the private sector as a key partner in mobilizing finance, innovation, technology, and investments needed to strengthen resilience and support green growth.

“Government should see the private sector as a key partner,” he said, stressing that climate and resilience policies must be grounded in realities while maintaining ambition and enabling investments that move communities “from a state of fragility to a state of agility.”

The CCC also highlighted the importance of integrated and science-based approaches to climate resilience, particularly amid growing energy and economic uncertainties affecting the region.

Borje described the ongoing energy crisis as a “systemic shock” and “systemic stress” for countries that remain dependent on fossil fuels, emphasizing the need for governments to balance immediate energy security concerns with long-term goals for a just and equitable green transition.

He cited the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to strengthen energy efficiency, energy security, and renewable energy investments while promoting resilience-oriented and data-driven policymaking.

The CCC likewise underscored the value of ASEAN–EU cooperation in advancing innovation, climate governance, risk-informed planning, and science-based decision-making, including through the use of satellite and Earth observation technologies such as the Copernicus programme.

As ASEAN Chair in 2026, the Philippines continues to advocate for stronger regional cooperation that prioritizes execution, scalability, and inclusivity in climate action.

The CCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with ASEAN-EU cooperation to strengthen implementation systems, scale effective solutions, and ensure that climate policies translate into real, measurable benefits for vulnerable communities.