UK, Phl hold 5th Climate Change dialogue

The bilateral cooperation on climate and the environment between the Philippines and the United Kingdom has been strengthened through discussions on science, innovation, localization, resilience and finance.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Laure Beaufils, and Environment Secretary and Official Representative of the President to the Climate Change Commission, Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, recently headed the 5th UK-PH Climate Change and Environment (CCE) Dialogue to set the direction for the year building on the successes of 2024.

This saw UK support for the operationalization of the Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan, the mobilization of institutional capital into renewable energy in the country through the Philippine Stock Exchange, funding to civil society across projects on biodiversity and coastal livelihoods and the launch of key multi-stakeholder platforms tackling plastic pollution and blue carbon.

Both countries agreed to establish a UK-led development partners coordination group for the localization of climate analytics in provinces identified with high exposure to climate risks in the National Adaptation Plan and the government’s Risk Resiliency Program.

Using the findings from the pilot site of Negros Occidental, an investment platform will be developed to mobilize private capital for adaptation and resilience with focus on climate-smart agriculture, innovative water management solutions and agroforestry projects.

The Dialogue also agreed to ramp up support for the blue economy through the UK’s Blue Planet Fund.

Both countries agreed to establish a UK-led development partners coordination group for the localization of climate analytics in provinces identified with high exposure to climate risks in the National Adaptation Plan and the government’s Risk Resiliency Program.

The new COAST (Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition) program will be rolled out in the Philippines this year, which seeks to deliver interventions that will strengthen marine protected areas, operationalize sustainable fisheries management, and promote blue carbon initiatives.

Representatives reached an agreement to form a UK-DENR partnership mechanism to promote biodiversity and nature grants to local governments and communities that would not only support biodiversity conservation but also build resilience and provide long-term economic benefits for resource-dependent communities.

The representatives also agreed to ramp up collaboration on climate and nature finance. Discussions covered expanding access to sustainable financing, catalyzing private capital for climate change adaptation and aligning financial strategies with climate risk assessments to develop more investment-ready portfolios for large-scale, long-term sustainability efforts.

“I am very proud of the progress we have made together. But we won’t rest on our laurels. We are ambitious for the future, and we will continue to deliver tangible results across adaptation, climate finance, science and research, and investments into renewable energy,” Ambassador Beaufils said.

Loyzaga said the country’s enhanced partnership with the UK “is a testament to our commitment as like-minded countries and large ocean nations to a future that is secure under a rules-based international order. The bi-annual reviews of our climate change joint work plan will allow us to align, calibrate, and adapt when we respond to geostrategic uncertainties that we actually face.”

The dialogue concluded with both countries signing a renewed partnership statement on climate and nature. The UK remains committed to supporting these efforts through its expertise, financing and advocacy for climate-vulnerable nations.