Photo courtesy: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
MANILA (March 5) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for a major scale-up of women-led climate action, warning that resilience efforts will fall short if women remain sidelined.
At the launch of the 2026 National Women’s Month celebration in Quezon City, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla delivered a blunt message: climate adaptation is “not gender-neutral.”
“Adaptation that ignores women’s voices is adaptation that fails,” Lotilla said, urging government agencies and development partners to put funding and decision-making power behind women’s leadership.
He pressed stakeholders to invest in women-led projects, amplify women’s role in climate policymaking, and ensure adaptation measures reflect the priorities of communities most exposed to floods, droughts, and rising seas.
From protecting mangroves and managing watersheds to preserving seed diversity and sustaining rural livelihoods, women—particularly in coastal, upland, and indigenous communities—are already driving frontline climate solutions, Lotilla noted. The DENR has embedded gender-responsive strategies in its programs, including community-based adaptation planning with grassroots and indigenous groups.
Through its exhibit, “Resilient Roots: Scaling Adaptation Through Women’s Leadership,” the agency is spotlighting local innovations led by women climate champions.
Supporting women’s leadership, Lotilla stressed, is not symbolic—it is central to building stronger, climate-resilient communities.
