Manila:The Philippines, despite its minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, is pledging to implement deeper emissions cuts to promote climate justice and gain greater international support ahead of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
According to Philippines News Agency, the country's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in anticipation of COP31, which is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20. This NDC is part of the latest version of the country's climate action plan, which is a requirement for parties to the Paris Agreement to submit every five years.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC), the primary policy-making body of the government on climate change, presented the 2026 NDC to stakeholders during a ceremony in Malacañang. The NDC emphasizes the country's commitment to a 75-percent net greenhouse gas emissions reduction and/or avoidance target from 2025 to 2035 compared to projected cumulative business-as-usual emissions. Of this target, 7 percent is unconditional and will be achieved through domestic resources and efforts, while the remaining 68 percent depends on international support.
The updated climate commitments expand on the country's 2021 NDC, which also aimed for a 75-percent emissions reduction and/or avoidance target but allocated a larger portion to conditional measures requiring international support. CCC Executive Director Robert Borje highlighted that this target underscores the Philippines' commitment to emission reductions while providing international partners with a concrete basis to support climate action in the country.
Borje stated that the NDC extends beyond ambition, serving as a framework for action. The 2026 NDC expands sectoral coverage and incorporates updated science, recent data, and 211 policies and measures, aiming to mobilize financing, technology, and capacity-building support for implementation. Developed through 253 engagements, the NDC includes priorities such as adaptation co-benefits, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, just transition, local governance, youth engagement, nature-based solutions, and circular economy. The CCC emphasized the need for coordination, investment, institutional capacity, and monitoring mechanisms to track emissions reductions and climate resilience improvements.
