CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera reaffirms the Philippines' commitment to updating its NDC alongside high-level representatives from government, private sector, civil society, and development partners at the 5th UK-Philippines Climate Change and Environment Dialogue. Photo courtesy of the DENR

Manila, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) led discussions on raising the ambition of the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) toward net zero at the 5th UK-Philippines Climate Change and Environment Dialogue held on March 12, 2025. The event reinforced both countries’ commitment to urgent climate action, adaptation and resilience, and cooperation for sustainable development. It brought together government agencies, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, and development partners to enhance collaboration ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.  

The dialogue focused on key areas of cooperation, including climate science and innovation, localization and resilience, and mobilizing climate investments. The discussions aim to shape future partnerships between the UK and the Philippines, particularly in the blue economy, and on climate finance and critical minerals—all crucial sectors for the country’s transformation towards low carbon and climate resilient development.

CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to updating its NDC through a whole-of-nation approach, aligning national priorities with global climate goals. Speaking at a session on raising NDC ambition toward net zero, she emphasized the need for technical and financial support to accelerate implementation of measures and technologies that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, transport, agriculture, industry,  waste, and forestry and land use sectors, and strengthen the country’s adaptation efforts.

She highlighted the structured process of updating NDC 3.0, emphasizing inclusivity, collaboration, and the role of development partners in mobilizing technical and funding support. She also underscored the importance of setting ambitious yet realistic climate targets that balance economic growth, energy security, and resilience-building efforts.

“Climate resilience and economic development must go hand in hand. Our NDC update ensures we prioritize industrial potential and energy security while striving for a climate-resilient future,” Herrera said. “This is why enhanced support from developed countries is essential for maximizing our contributions to global climate efforts.”

British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils opened the event by highlighting the importance of sustained collaboration between the UK and the Philippines in addressing climate challenges. She emphasized the consistency of the dialogue’s role as a platform to advance shared climate goals.

“This is a time to celebrate all that we’ve achieved together. Climate action has been a personal priority for the President and is at the heart of our foreign policy—setting the agenda and mechanisms for transparency and accountability,” Ambassador Beaufils stated.

Meanwhile, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Official Representative of the President to the Climate Change Commission and Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, reinforced this message in her opening remarks, emphasizing that climate resilience is both a shared aspiration and an imperative. 

"The Philippines and the UK share a responsibility as large ocean nations. Together, we are building a roadmap to resilience—aligning key priorities, setting measurable outcomes, and ensuring coordinated leadership in this critical race against climate change," she said.

Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, Vice Chairperson and Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission, underscored the importance of global cooperation in addressing the climate crisis.

"Strong bilateral partnerships are a bedrock of meaningful climate action. This dialogue marks an important milestone in reinforcing our shared goals for mitigation, adaptation, and ecological action. Working together will unlock new opportunities towards our goal of becoming a low-carbon, resilient country," Borje said.

Agreements for collaboration include the UK’s support and promotion of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) among financial institutions. The UK will play a key role in mobilizing capital through targeted funds and strategically aligning its programs with the Philippines’ priority initiatives. Both sides also committed to find ways to strengthen high-impact public-private partnerships, climate-related scholarships, joint site visits, funding access, education programs, and capacity-building initiatives.

The Climate Change Commission remains at the forefront of these efforts, ensuring that national policies and international commitments translate into tangible actions for resilience and sustainability.