New ‘PhilLOCAL’ collaboration will strengthen cooperation between the national and local governments, expand access to climate data and digital tools, and help Philippine cities turn climate plans into investment-ready projects.
Taking decisive steps to address the climate emergency at the local level, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines (DENR), the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), and C40 Cities have launched a new partnership called PhilLOCAL (Philippine Leadership on Climate Action and Localization).
The collaboration aims to help local governments turn national climate commitments into concrete action, strengthen climate resilience, and accelerate emissions reductions across the Philippines. This is particularly significant in an archipelago where one in every ten people lives in a city committed to the GCoM alliance.
Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said: “The Philippines understands firsthand that climate change is not a distant threat but a daily reality affecting our communities, ecosystems, and economy. Through PhilLOCAL, we are strengthening the vital connection between national climate ambition and local action, ensuring that cities and municipalities have the tools, knowledge, and partnerships they need to build resilience and pursue low-carbon development. This collaboration reflects our commitment to empowering local governments as key partners in delivering the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution, National Adaptation Plan, and CHAMP commitments. By bringing together government, global networks, technical expertise, and finance, we can help turn climate goals into practical solutions that protect lives, create opportunities, and support a more sustainable future for all Filipinos.”
The partnership seeks to address a persistent challenge in climate action: although cities are among the first to experience the worsening impacts of climate change, many local governments lack the technical capacity, actionable data, and access to financing needed to carry out their climate plans.
Through PhilLOCAL, DENR will work alongside the GCoM alliance and C40 Cities to help close these gaps. The initiative will support Philippine local governments in developing stronger climate strategies, accessing digital tools and technical expertise, and transforming priority projects into investment-ready proposals.
The collaboration will also support the implementation of the Philippines’ updated 2026 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan, while advancing the country’s commitments under the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action. The coalition promotes stronger cooperation between national and subnational governments to advance climate action.
Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of GCoM, said: “Cities are on the front lines of climate change, but too often lack the tools, resources, and financing to turn their climate plans into action. Under the leadership of DENR and galvanizing its CHAMP commitment, PhilLOCAL allows us to convene Philippine national, provincial, and local governments alongside the experts, partners, and innovators who can help close that gap. By improving access to climate data, responsible AI-assisted solutions, and investment opportunities, we can help Philippine cities better assess rapidly worsening climate hazards and risks, while supporting ambitious but hard-hit and underserved communities and local leaders.”
From Climate Planning to Local Implementation
One of the partnership’s key priorities is helping cities overcome a major obstacle to climate action: access to climate finance.
Through project preparation support and efforts to strengthen the enabling environment for urban climate finance, in collaboration with development and financing institutions, PhilLOCAL aims to turn local climate priorities into proposals that can attract investment.
To improve implementation nationwide, the partnership will also encourage stronger cooperation between national and local authorities through capacity-building programs, technical assistance, and peer learning among municipalities.
In 2027, the partners will further develop these priorities and welcome broader participation from national government agencies and departments, local government authorities, and development and financing organizations. These efforts will help align local climate initiatives with national policies while addressing the varying needs and capacities of communities across the Philippines.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “The climate transition will be won or lost in cities. In a country as exposed to climate impacts as the Philippines, national ambition must translate into action that benefits and protects local communities. PhilLOCAL is an opportunity to bring national leadership and local delivery closer together, ensuring that cities and local governments are not simply implementing national climate goals, but actively shaping how those goals are achieved. This is how we turn climate commitments into lasting improvements in people’s everyday lives.”
Hon. Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City, GCoM Board Member, and C40 Member, said: “As cities on the frontline of the climate crisis, our responsibility is to act with urgency and equity. In Quezon City, we have seen how ambitious, people-centered policies transform lives, but scaling these solutions nationwide requires seamless alignment between national and local governments. PhilLOCAL gives Philippine mayors the institutional architecture, technical bandwidth, and data-driven tools needed to move rapidly from planning to real, lasting protection on the ground.”
Convening Philippine Local Governments, Global Expertise, and Finance
Under the partnership agreement, DENR will take the lead in national policy alignment and coordination with local governments, while GCoM and C40 will provide technical expertise and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
The two global networks will also help connect Philippine cities with international financial institutions and partners, while encouraging knowledge exchange among local, provincial, and national governments around the world.
The partnership builds on the Philippines’ commitment to multilevel climate governance, as well as its role as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair in 2026 and a member of the CHAMP Steering Group. These positions provide opportunities to share lessons and experiences in local climate implementation across the region and globally.
PhilLOCAL also seeks to strengthen collaboration with complementary initiatives, including the Global Environmental Facility/GEF-8 programme and the CHAMP Implementation Programme (CHIP), recently launched by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Hon. Alfredo Coro II, Mayor of Del Carmen, Surigao, Member of the CHAMP Subnational Advisory Council, and GCoM Signatory, said: “Serving on the CHAMP Subnational Advisory Council reinforces a fundamental truth: national climate targets cannot be achieved without frontline, vulnerable and active local governments at the decision-making table. CHAMP was established precisely to foster this high-ambition multilevel partnership, and PhilLOCAL is that vision brought to life in the Philippines. This collaboration is testament to just, inclusive, and localized governance – connecting climate science, culture, digital tools, and financing opportunities with smaller, highly vulnerable island and coastal municipalities like Del Carmen.”
