A strategic approach to climate change in the Philippines

The internal objective of this strategy note is to outline directions for the World Bank's engagement in climate change (CC) in the Philippines, integrated with the new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS). The external objective is to raise awareness of the implications of climate change for the economy; to facilitate integration of CC actions into policies and programs, such as the medium-term Philippine development plan; and to support the government in articulating its own strategy for climate change. A sectoral overview of opportunities in mitigation and adaptation results in a long list of possible interventions in energy, transport, agriculture, forestry, solid waste, wastewater and groundwater management, and urban development. With so many options on the table, there is a need to establish criteria for strategic choice. The note suggests eight criteria for screening the current portfolio as well as new proposals: client buy-in, CAS alignment, and scale of impact, comparative advantage, cost efficiency, staff resources, financial resources, and risks. It ends by providing general guidance for the World Bank's future work on climate change.