Philippines leads ASEAN climate talks on Loss and Damage

The Philippines, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), hosted a regional policy dialogue on Loss and Damage — marking the first in a series of ASEAN-level discussions aimed at deepening regional understanding and cooperation on this critical climate agenda.

The event, held on 6 and 7 August in Makati City, gathered representatives from ASEAN Member States, climate experts, and development partners to examine the complex dimensions of climate-induced Loss and Damage — climate impacts that go beyond the limits of adaptation. As host of the Meetings of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FrLD), the Philippines is taking an active role in elevating the agenda across Southeast Asia and positioning the region as a proactive participant in global climate negotiations.

DENR Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones, chair of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), said the policy dialogue highlighted that “by working together, sharing our knowledge, and aligning our efforts, we can transform ASEAN into a beacon for climate resilience and sustainable development, safeguarding the well-being of our communities and the future of our planet.”

The discussions focused on identifying national and regional priorities, promoting policy coherence, and exploring effective ways to access support from the FrLD, which was established at the 27th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Participants exchanged views on the meaning of “Loss and Damage” in the regional context, the framework for responding to these issues, and ASEAN’s role in addressing them. They also shared knowledge on the current state of climate change-induced damage and loss in their respective countries.

Southeast Asia remains one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, facing growing threats from rising sea levels, extreme heat, wildfires, biodiversity loss, and crop failures. These impacts have already begun to undermine livelihoods, displace communities, and strain national capacities for response and recovery.

The operationalisation of the FrLD presents an opportunity for ASEAN Member States to secure support in addressing the irreversible impacts of climate change. However, effective engagement with the Fund requires a clear and shared regional understanding of Loss and Damage. This policy dialogue is part of a broader effort to build capacity in ASEAN and ensure that Member States are prepared to participate in global processes, advocate for their needs, and access available resources.

The event was supported by the ASEAN EU-German Climate Action Programme, a cooperation project between ASEAN and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the European Union (EU), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.