The Philippines’ Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, representing the developing countries’ constituency in the Adaptation Committee, presents a preview of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee’s first Synthesis Report on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties at the 2026 Adaptation Forum.

BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Philippines, through its membership in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Adaptation Committee, helped set the scene for global discussions on accelerating adaptation implementation, presenting an emerging picture of adaptation action reported by countries and highlighting the need to move from plans and systems toward measurable results.

Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, who serves as a member of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, presented a preview of the Committee’s forthcoming Synthesis Report on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties, which the Adaptation Committee made available as a basis for discussion at the 2026 Adaptation Forum ahead of its consideration at the Adaptation Committee meeting. Borje represented the developing countries’ constituency in the Adaptation Committee, and is the first Filipino to be elected to the Adaptation Committee since it was established in 2010.

The presentation drew from adaptation information communicated by 198 Parties to the UNFCCC, covering developed and developing countries across six regions. The information is also organized through the Adaptation Committee’s Interactive Portal on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties, which draws from Parties’ national reports and communications.

The emerging picture shows that countries have substantially strengthened the institutional foundations for adaptation. Around 94 percent report having climate change frameworks and regulations in place, while 89 percent have adaptation-specific frameworks. Meanwhile, 182 of 198 countries have undertaken impact, vulnerability and risk assessments, mostly at national and sectoral levels.

The findings also point to the challenges for the next stage: determining whether adaptation efforts are producing measurable reductions in vulnerability and climate risk.

Only 31 percent of countries report having monitoring, evaluation and learning systems in place, while another 32 percent are still establishing them. Information on adaptation outcomes and effectiveness is available for only about 28 percent of countries, although some are beginning to report reduced agricultural losses, improved water, infrastructure and health outcomes, and avoided costs resulting from adaptation investments.

“Planning remains essential, but it is not the endpoint. The increasingly important question is whether adaptation changes decisions, reduces risk and protects people, livelihoods and development gains,” Borje said.

The presentation also showed that national adaptation priorities and reported implementation are broadly aligned. Food security, food systems and agriculture; freshwater resources and sanitation; and health are among the most frequently identified priorities in national plans, with significant implementation also reported in disaster risk management, ecosystems and human settlements.

For the Philippines, the findings reinforce the importance of translating climate science and risk assessments into investments and decisions that can withstand increasingly severe climate impacts.

Recent flooding in the country has underscored the consequences when hazards intersect with vulnerable communities, infrastructure and development systems. The Philippine National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050, the country’s first NAP, completed and submitted  under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., provides the national framework for addressing these risks through anticipatory, risk-informed and locally grounded adaptation.

The global review also highlights the importance of cooperation. A total of 173 countries report existing arrangements for cooperation on adaptation at national, regional or international levels, including efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, mobilize resources and expertise, and address risks that cross borders.

The synthesis presented at the Forum was a preview intended to inform discussion. The final report is for consideration by the Adaptation Committee before publication.

The underlying portal and synthesis are intended as complementary tools: the portal organizes and visualizes country-reported information, while the synthesis identifies broader patterns, trends and country experiences.

The 2026 Adaptation Forum was held on 9–10 September at the Baku Convention Centre as part of UNFCCC Climate Week 4. The wider Climate Week ran from 7–11 September and placed particular emphasis on moving climate commitments toward practical implementation and scalable solutions.

The Climate Change Commission is the lead policy-making body of the Philippine government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs and action plans relating to climate change pursuant to Republic Act No. 9729, as amended.

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