IN observance of World Cities Day 2026, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called on local governments (LGU) and urban stakeholders to integrate climate resilience into housing and urban development strategies.
Highlighting this year’s theme, ‘Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All,’ the CCC underscored the critical role of cities in fighting global warming.
With urban areas driving a significant share of global carbon dioxide emissions, transforming towns into low-carbon economies remains vital to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 11.
‘Urban regeneration is not just about building new structures; it is about rethinking how our cities function in a changing climate,’ said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. ‘Every housing unit, every drainage system, and every transport network must be designed with climate risk in mind.’
To drive localized action, the Commission is accelerating efforts to integrate the long-term National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050 into local planning, prioritizing sustainable land use and urban management.
Collaborative initiatives are already underway across the country. Earlier this year, the CCC partnered with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to align Metro Manila’s infrastructure programs with national climate policies, tackling severe risks like extreme flooding, sea-level rise, and urban heat.
The agency also highlighted Quezon City’s leadership as the sole Philippine member of the international C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, describing it as a benchmark for leveraging global support for local adaptation.
Emphasizing that urban development and climate defense must go hand in hand, the CCC urged multi-sectoral cooperation across national agencies, local governments, private stakeholders, and communities.
‘The cities we regenerate today will determine the resilience of our communities for decades to come,’ Borje noted. ‘We must build forward better, ensuring that adequate housing and urban development go hand in hand with climate adaptation and mitigation.’