SDG #13: Climate Action

Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action

Human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, is the primary driver of climate change, which endangers life as we know it. The effects of this phenomenon include the increased frequency of calamities and disasters such as droughts, floods, and storms, as well as rising sea levels. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) raised the idea of a “1.5 °C World”, which sought to limit global warming as remaining at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial temperature levels and not reaching beyond 2 °C. However, according to a Climate Transparency Report, the Philippines is not on track for a “1.5 °C World”.

Philippine Statistics:

• According to the Climate Change Tracker, about 0.51% of world emissions in 2023 came from the Philippines’ 279 million tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

• To comply with the UNFCCC’s vision for a “1.5 °C World”, the Philippines would have to cut its emissions to less than 132 MtCO2e by 2030 and less than -198 MtCO2e by 2050

• From 1990 to 2017, emissions from the Philippines drastically increased by 114%, reflecting rapid growth in energy demand and industrial activity. 

• The Philippines ranked 7th globally in the 2025 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), doing well in reducing emissions and energy use but falling behind in expanding the use of renewable energy.

• Damage due to worsening calamities costs the Philippines an average of 1.2% of GDP annually, with losses reaching up to 4.6% in extreme disaster years. 

Philippine Initiatives and Policies: 

The Philippines has created various policies, initiatives, and laws aimed at ensuring that the country adapts to the international standards imposed by various global frameworks when it comes to greenhouse gas and fossil fuel emissions, as well as other factors affecting climate change. 

• The Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) institutionalized climate action by creating the Climate Change Commission, mandating the integration of climate change in government planning, and guiding national and local climate policy.

• To coordinate mitigation and adaptation measures, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2011–2028) lays out strategic directions across various priority areas.

• The Renewable Energy Act reduces the country’s dependency on fossil fuels and ensures the use of more sustainable and cleaner sources of energy.

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Sources:

Climate Change Act of 2009, R.A. 9729, Republic of the Philippines, 14th Congress, 2009.

Climate Change Commission. (2011).  National Climate Change Action Plan 2011–2028. Climate Change Commission. https://climate.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/NCCAP-1.pdf

Climate Change Performance Index. (2025). Philippines. Climate Change Performance Index. https://ccpi.org/country/phl/

Climate Transparency. (2020). Climate Transparency Report: Philippines. Climate Transparency. https://www.climate-transparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Philippines-CT-2020.pdf

Renewable Energy Act of 2008, R.A. 9513, Republic of the Philippines, 14th Congress, 2008.

United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. United Nations. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/

World Bank Group. (2022). Philippines: Country Climate and Development Report. World Bank Group. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/4ec3282919652f7545bc25c49c1811e4-0070012022/original/PHCCDR-FINAL-formatted.pdf