During the recent UNFCCC Adaptation Committee discussions, the Philippines pushed for stronger local access to climate finance, emphasizing that international funds must effectively reach and support communities on the ground.

BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Philippines backed stronger local access to adaptation finance as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Adaptation Committee advanced discussions on the focus of its future thematic dialogue, emphasizing the need to examine how international climate finance can more effectively reach local actors and support adaptation implementation.

Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, who serves on the Adaptation Committee from the developing-country constituency, supported local-level adaptation finance as a practical focus for the Committee’s continuing work on adaptation finance.

The proposed theme examines approaches, stakeholder roles and country experiences in channeling international climate finance to local actors. It was considered alongside other possible themes, including country and regional platforms, innovative adaptation finance, blended finance and stronger institutional coordination for accessing adaptation finance.

For developing countries, the issue goes beyond the overall volume of finance available. Adaptation priorities are often implemented by local governments and communities, yet access to international climate finance can remain difficult because of institutional, technical and financing constraints.

This makes local access particularly important in countries where climate risks vary widely across territories and where implementation depends on local capacities, institutions and investment decisions.

Borje said, “For developing countries, the question is not only how much adaptation finance is available, but whether it can actually be accessed and used where climate risks are felt most. Local access has to be practical, responsive and capable of supporting implementation.”

He also emphasized that work on local adaptation finance should allow consideration of appropriate financing approaches and instruments that can make access more effective and productive, while avoiding additional complexity or barriers for developing countries and local actors.

“Innovation should serve implementation. Where appropriate, financing approaches that help solve access constraints should be examined as part of the conversation on getting adaptation finance to the local level,” Borje said.

For the Philippines, the discussion is directly relevant to efforts to localize the National Adaptation Plan and strengthen the capacity of local governments to develop, finance and implement climate-responsive investments.

Improving local access to finance can help translate national adaptation priorities into projects and services that reduce risks to communities, protect livelihoods and infrastructure, and strengthen resilience across provinces, cities and municipalities.

The discussion also reflects a broader implementation challenge for developing countries: adaptation finance must not only be mobilized but also structured and delivered in ways that are accessible, usable and responsive to local conditions.

The Committee agreed that the scope of the dialogue could be further developed through the preparation and review of a concept note, creating space to examine how local access may be strengthened and how appropriate financing approaches can support implementation.

The Adaptation Committee conducts thematic dialogues annually under its flexible workplan. Its 2026 dialogue focused on opportunities for accessing adaptation finance from the operating entities of the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism, while the Committee at its 30th meeting considered possible themes for 2027, including local-level adaptation finance.

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 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.