MANILA, 8 August 2023 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) spearheaded the first multistakeholder consultation to develop the National Adaptation Plan, which aims to outline the country’s strategies and priorities on building resilience against climate impacts.

“Multistakeholder consultation is a crucial step in developing our first National Adaptation Plan. To come up with a science-based, fit-for-purpose, and country-driven NAP, we need to bring together our diverse range of knowledge and expertise on advancing climate resilience in pursuit of sustainable development,” CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director (VCED) Robert E.A. Borje said.

The consultation was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the British Embassy Manila, bringing together representatives from key national government agencies, local government units, and stakeholders from academic and scientific institutions, civil society, private sector, and development sector.

The NAP is envisioned to respond to the actual and anticipated risks and vulnerabilities of sectors and communities to climate change.

“The NAP builds upon the identified priority thematic sectors of the NCCAP and acknowledges the growing risks for the country and the world as warned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in their 6th Assessment Report. It underscores the importance of risk profiling, risk assessment, and risk management needed to increase the adaptive capacity of communities through technology development and capacity building, projecting future and multiple scenarios impacts,” CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera explained.

The CCC has mobilized its contact groups with partners and stakeholders for the NAP: the ACT LOCAL or Accelerating Climate Action and Transformation for Local Communities network, for LGUs; ENACT or Empowering Nurtured Alliance for Climate action and Transformation for development partners; WE CAN or Working to Empower Climate Action Network for civil society organizations; and CONNECT or Communicating Opportunities to Network, Navigate, and Explore Climate Transformation for private sector partners—which will be instrumental in the NAP development process.

VCED Borje reaffirmed the CCC's commitment to strengthen collaboration and collective action, following the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in scaling up investments that drive economic transformation, leading to a sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society.

“As the Philippines moves forward, guided by the principles of the National Adaptation Plan and driven by the passion of its people, it strives to build a future that stands resilient in the face of a rapidly changing climate,” VCED Borje concluded.

This NAP Multi-stakeholder Consultation-Workshops is the first of a series, to be followed by a two-day workshop on 22 to 23 August 2023.

For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit https://climate.gov.ph and Climate Change Commission PH.