THE Philippines expressed support for action-driven and results-oriented climate action between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the European Union.
Speaking at the Asean-EU Sustainability Summit 2026 in Cebu, Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairman and Executive Director Robert Borje stressed the urgency of translating climate commitments into measurable outcomes.
He said that Asean-EU cooperation must move beyond policy alignment and shift to achieving concrete results on the ground.
”Now is a time for us to take a few steps back and to look at what the gaps and challenges are. Because truthfully, the challenge for us is really delivering on the ground and implementation,” Borje said.
Borje said that while Asean member states continued to strengthen climate ambition through Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and other regional frameworks, the challenge now lies in moving consistently from policymaking to implementation and assessment.
He identified three major gaps that continue to constrain climate action delivery across Asean: institutional coordination across sectors, ministries and levels of government; implementation capacity at scale, particularly at the subnational level where execution happens; and project preparation and execution readiness for resilience investments.
”Climate resilience cuts across sectors, ministries and levels of government, and our delivery systems are still catching up to that reality,” Borje said, adding that implementation support at scale remained critical across Asean member states and local governments.
The CCC chief emphasized that these challenges should also be viewed as opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Asean, the EU, governments, development partners and the private sector in accelerating practical and scalable climate solutions.
Borje underscored the importance of adopting a whole-of-society approach, recognizing the private sector as a key partner in mobilizing finance, innovation, technology and investments needed to strengthen resilience and support green growth.
”Government should see the private sector as a key partner,” he said, stressing that climate and resilience policies must be grounded in realities while maintaining ambition and enabling investments that move communities “from a state of fragility to a state of agility.”
Borje highlighted the importance of integrated and science-based approaches to climate resilience, particularly amid growing energy and economic uncertainties affecting the region.
He described the ongoing energy crisis as a “systemic shock” and “systemic stress” for countries that remain dependent on fossil fuels, emphasizing the need for governments to balance immediate energy security concerns with long-term goals for a just and equitable green transition.
Borje cited the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to strengthen energy efficiency, energy security and renewable energy investments while promoting resilience-oriented and data-driven policymaking.
He underscored the value of Asean–EU cooperation in advancing innovation, climate governance, risk-informed planning and science-based decision-making, including through the use of satellite and Earth observation technologies such as the Copernicus program.
The CCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with Asean-EU cooperation to strengthen implementation systems, scale effective solutions and ensure that climate policies translate into real, measurable benefits for vulnerable communities, he added.
The inaugural Asean-EU Sustainability Summit, held May on 7 as an official side event of the 48th Asean Leaders’ Summit, convened key leaders from government, business and development institutions to advance regional sustainability and resilience.
As Asean chairman in 2026, the Philippines continues to advocate for stronger regional cooperation that prioritizes execution, scalability and inclusivity in climate action.
