GOVERNMENT spending on climate change programs more than doubled in 2025, reaching P1.16 trillion from P457.4 billion a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.
The bulk of the 2025 allocation was directed toward adaptation measures, which accounted for 97.2 percent of total climate expenditures. These included programs designed to help communities cope with the impacts of climate change.
Just 2.8 percent was allocated to mitigation efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, based on data from the Climate Change Commission.
Spending distribution across sectors further highlighted the government’s strategic priorities under the National Climate Change Action Plan.
Sustainable energy received the largest share of P391.88 billion, equivalent to 38.4 percent of total climate expenditures. This was followed by water sufficiency at P313.45 billion or 30.7 percent.
Climate-smart industries and services accounted for P228.77 billion or 22.4 percent of the total, indicating growing investment in making economic sectors more resilient and environmentally sustainable.
Meanwhile, food security programs received P62.37 billion or 6.1 percent, while other cross-cutting priorities — including ecosystem stability, human security and capacity development — made up the remaining 2.3 percent.
The PSA said the data formed part of the Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics, which consolidates information from various government agencies to provide a comprehensive view of environmental governance, expenditure and outcomes.
The climate spending figures were sourced from the Climate Change Commission, the lead policymaking body on climate-related initiatives.
NIÑA MYKA PAULINE ARCEO
