Climate change expenditure doubles to P1.16T in 2025

GOVERNMENT SPENDING on climate change efforts more than doubled in 2025 due to spending on sustainable energy, water sufficiency, and climate smart industries, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

The PSA’s Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics (CPES) Component 6 showed that total climate change expenditure doubled to P1.16 trillion in 2025 from P457.41 million in 2024.

The CPES is a compilation of statistical data gathered from different government agencies, consisting of data on expenditures, regulations, and other activities such as international agreements focusing on the protection of the environment and management of resources.

Component 6 covers the country’s expenditures involved in the protection and management of its environment.

Expenditure on environmental protection amounted to P24.32 billion in 2025, increasing by 1.7% from P23.91 billion in 2024.

Broken down by different functions, environmental protection not classified elsewhere accounted for the highest share of 37.9% with P9.21 billion — an 11.8% leap from P8.24 billion in 2024.

This was followed by protection of biodiversity and landscape with P8.83 billion (36.3% share), and pollution abatement with P2.77 billion (11.4% share).

Meanwhile, expenditures for waste management reached P2.46 billion, 10.1% of the total expenditures. The allocation for this sector was a tad higher by 0.5% from P2.45 billion in 2024.

Expenditures for research and development reached P1.04 billion, accounting for 4.3% of total government spending on environmental protection in 2025.

Among strategic priorities of the National Climate Change Action Plan, sustainable energy (P391.88 million), water sufficiency (P313.45 million), and climate smart industries and services (P228.77 million) received the highest spending allocations that year.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Budget allocation for environmental education in 2025 amounted to P2.03 million, 5.2% higher than P1.93 million in 2024.

Meanwhile, the number of students pursuing environment-related programs jumped by 10.8% to 42,000 in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Caraga had the highest number of students taking such courses with 4,600, followed by Bicol with 4,200 students, and Central Luzon with 3,700. — Matthew Miguel L. Castillo