With strengthened climate policies and active engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs), local governments, the academe and other sectors, the Philippines maintained its position among the top performers in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025, placing 7th globally.

The Philippines remained the only ASEAN country in the Top 15 and ranked just behind Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The CCPI, published by Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute, and the Climate Action Network, is an independent monitoring tool that evaluates the climate mitigation performance of 63 countries and the European Union, which together account for over 90 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

This marked the third consecutive year that the Philippines has been recognized as a high performer in the CCPI, demonstrating consistent progress since the country entered the rankings in 2022. That year, the Philippines placed 23rd, followed by a significant leap to 12th in 2023, then 6th in 2024. These improvements reflect not only actual performance in key indicators such as climate policy, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use but also robust engagement with CSOs, many of whom are directly involved in the CCPI evaluation process.

Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) attributed the steady improvement to the decisive leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., under whose administration climate policy has been prioritized as a national agenda. He emphasized that the CCPI ranking affirms the country’s commitment to stronger and more inclusive climate action built on the foundations of good governance, science-based policies, and strategic partnerships.

“With improved policies and a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, the Philippines is proving that climate action rooted in collaboration, science and good governance produces tangible results,” Borje said.

One key area where the Philippines has made substantial gains is climate policy. Since 2022, the country has strengthened its policy framework, particularly with the development and publication of the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP) 2020 to 2030 and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023 to 2050. Both were formulated and adopted under the Marcos administration, in line with the President’s guidance to enhance the country’s capacity for transformative climate action.

The NDCIP outlines the specific policies, programs, and financing strategies to meet the Philippines’ climate targets, estimating that implementation will require around US$72 billion or P4.1 trillion. The NAP, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in May 2024, makes the Philippines the third ASEAN country and the 56th globally to submit such a plan. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for increasing resilience across critical sectors, including agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure.

The country’s continued high marks in the CCPI also stemmed from its institutionalized whole-of-society approach to climate governance. Through the Active Climate Change Engagement Leading to Resilient, Adaptive and Transformative Empowerment (ACCELERATE) framework, the CCC facilitates sustained collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders such as the national government agencies, local government units, CSOs, the academe, development partners and the private sector. This framework ensures that stakeholders are not only consulted but actively engaged in developing and implementing climate action.

Under ACCELERATE, dedicated mechanisms have been established to support engagement at all levels. These include WE CAN or the Working to Empower Climate Action Network, which strengthens coordination with CSOs and non-government organizations; ACT Local, or Accelerating Climate Action and Transformation for Local Communities, which empowers local governments to lead resilience-building efforts; ENACT, or Empowering Nurtured Alliance for Climate Action and Transformation, which enables development partners to enhance resource mobilization and technical support; and CONNECT, or Communicating Opportunities to Network, Navigate, and Explore Climate Transformation, which brings the private sector into the center of climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

Borje underscored that the contributions of CSOs such as the Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, the Manila Observatory and the Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation to the CCPI evaluation process have been instrumental in validating and shaping the country’s climate agenda.

“Their work in monitoring and informing our climate action helps ensure that our policies are not only evidence-based and inclusive but also responsive to the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change,” he said.

Another key factor in the country’s performance is the continuing coordination and cooperation between and among government agencies. Under the whole-of-government approach, the CCC works closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Finance, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, National Economic and Development Authority, and other relevant national government agencies. Their efforts collectively advance the implementation of the country’s climate agenda, from emissions reduction and renewable energy expansion to resilience-building and policy innovation.

“The challenge for the Philippines now is to sustain and further strengthen implementation to achieve our national and collective targets,” Borje added.

The CCC reaffirmed its commitment to sustain these efforts, deepen stakeholder partnerships, and translate recognition into more impactful outcomes on the ground.