Institutionalising Climate and Health Action in the Philippines
Categories: Action Line 2: Evidence-based policy strategy and capacity building, Assessments of climate and health risks and GHG emissions, Climate resilient and low carbon infrastructures, technologies, and supply chain, Climate-related emergency preparedness and management, Climate-smart workforce, Climate-transformative leadership and governance, Health systems wide resilience
Country: Philippines
Organizations: Department of Health - Philippines
The intervention
The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines created a dedicated Health and Climate Change Office to institutionalise climate-health action across policies, programs, and investments. The office leads integration of mitigation and adaptation strategies into the national health system, coordinating with environment, disaster, and planning agencies. Within its first year, it developed the Roadmap on Health and Climate Change, outlining actions on vulnerability assessments, greenhouse gas inventories, and hospital decarbonisation pilots while aligning with the country’s National Climate Change Action Plan. This centralised structure enables consistent implementation and accountability for climate-resilient, sustainable healthcare development.
Success factors
The success of this initiative stems from clear institutional ownership, political will, and alignment with national priorities. Strong leadership ensured continuity through political transitions, while interdepartmental collaboration improved efficiency. Early integration of climate and health planning within existing systems built credibility and reduced duplication. Technical assistance from the WHO and other partners enhanced analytical capacity and policy formulation.
Recommendations
Replication relies on strong leadership and visible champions who can position climate and health action as integral to national development, not as a competing agenda. Early demonstration through programs and projects - such as the Green and Safe Health Facilities program - builds credibility and momentum. Aligning interventions with existing priorities and national adaptation frameworks ensures institutional support and funding. Collaboration across ministries and partners reinforces continuity and coherence. Sustained advocacy, backed by data and clear communication of benefits, helps embed climate resilience and sustainability as a core function of the health system.
Key resources
- Climate-health in action newsletter: Looking Ahead to a Year of Global Collaboration on Climate and Health
- Health Facility Development Bureau, Department of Health website
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