The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has underscored the crucial role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advancing and supporting the government’s agenda to efficiently address the adverse impacts of climate change.

During the Working to Empower Climate Action Network’s (WE CAN) 7th Consultation Meeting with CSOs on May 13, the CCC recognized the need to formalize and institutionalize robust coordination and engagement with CSOs.

“The mechanism, at full capacity, will pave the way for the Commission and the CSOs to have a multilateral working partnership with the shared benefits of knowledge and network resource exchange, strengthening further their relationship,” the CCC said in a news release on Monday.

As part of its regular preparatory process, the CCC conducted WE CAN’s 7th Consultation Meeting with the main agenda of strengthening the mechanism’s Terms of Reference.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje highlighted the government’s continued commitment to invoking a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach in addressing climate change, citing WE CAN as the pathway for government-to-civil society engagement.

“WE CAN will institutionalize the ways of our engagement, providing a sustainable platform for both civil society and the CCC to work together towards downstream and upstream climate action,” Borje said in his keynote speech.

Meanwhile, CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera stressed the vitality of WE CAN in ensuring a balanced and sustained engagement with the civil society in pursuing climate resiliency and smartness in the country.

“WE CAN is a detailed mechanism that guides us on how we can work together on various programs and efforts on climate action. It is a platform that will make our partnerships more inclusive, participatory, relevant, and more meaningful,” Herrera said.

“The intention is to move away from a top-down approach and instead establish a coordination mechanism that is co-owned by the civil society in order to enable a more in-depth discussion of various climate-related matters,” she added.

The CCC remains steadfast in its pursuit of inclusive climate goals, ensuring that all sectors, including the civil society, are engaged in the process of building a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines.

By leveraging the grassroots connections, advocacy capabilities, and localized knowledge of CSOs, the CCC hopes to involve a majority of the local communities in the achievement of the country’s climate agenda. (PNA)