Philippines pushes faster climate adaptation at UN forum

BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Philippines, through its membership in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Adaptation Committee, helped frame global discussions on accelerating climate adaptation by presenting emerging findings on countries’ actions and highlighting the need to move from planning toward measurable results.

Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, a member of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, presented a preview of the committee’s first Synthesis Report on the State of Adaptation Action by Parties during the 2026 Adaptation Forum.

The synthesis was made available to help inform discussions at the forum ahead of its consideration by the Adaptation Committee.

Borje represents the developing countries’ constituency and is the first Filipino elected to the Adaptation Committee since it was established in 2010.

Established under the UN climate process, the committee works to strengthen and coordinate adaptation efforts under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

The presentation drew from adaptation information reported by all 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 national reports and communications submitted by countries.

The emerging findings show that countries have substantially strengthened the institutional foundations for climate adaptation.

About 94% of countries report having climate change frameworks and regulations in place, while 89% have adaptation-specific frameworks.

A total of 182 of 198 countries have conducted impact, vulnerability, and risk assessments, mostly at the national and sectoral levels.

The findings also highlight the challenge of determining whether adaptation efforts are producing measurable reductions in vulnerability and climate risk.

Only 31% of countries report having monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems in place, while another 32% are still establishing them.

Information on adaptation outcomes and effectiveness is available for only about 28% of countries.

Some countries, however, 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.

Countries also reported significant implementation 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 capable of withstanding increasingly severe climate impacts.

Recent flooding in the country has highlighted the consequences when climate hazards intersect with vulnerable communities, infrastructure, and development systems.

The Philippine National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050, the country’s first NAP, was completed and submitted under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and provides a national framework for addressing climate risks through anticipatory, risk-informed, and locally grounded adaptation.

The global review also highlights the importance of international and domestic cooperation on climate adaptation.

A total of 173 countries report having arrangements for adaptation cooperation at the 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 discussions before consideration by the Adaptation Committee.

The underlying portal and synthesis are designed as complementary tools, with the portal organizing and visualizing country-reported information and the synthesis identifying broader patterns, trends, and country experiences.

The 2026 Adaptation Forum was held Sept. 9–10 at the Baku Convention Centre as part of UNFCCC Climate Week 4.

Climate Week 4 ran Sept. 7–11 and placed particular emphasis on moving climate commitments toward practical implementation and scalable solutions.

The Climate Change Commission is the Philippine government’s lead policymaking body tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating climate change programs and action plans under Republic Act 9729, as amended.