Enviro News Asia, Manila – The Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) is holding its ninth meeting from July 8 to 10, 2026, at the Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Mandaluyong City, to deliberate on key policy and operational matters aimed at strengthening the Fund’s ability to support vulnerable developing countries responding to climate-induced loss and damage.
The meeting, hosted by the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will bring together FRLD Board members, civil society advisors, Philippine government officials, and other stakeholders. The agenda covers the operationalization of the Barbados Implementation Modalities, funding arrangements, governance and institutional matters, resource mobilization and replenishment processes, the Fund’s Results Measurement Framework, and Country Support System.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna, representing the Philippine government as host of the FRLD Board, said the steady and deliberate work of the Board is essential to translating international commitments into practical on-the-ground support.
“Decisions made during these sessions are vital to the continued operationalization of the Fund, as the Board works to build the institutional and operational foundations needed to protect vulnerable developing countries,” he said.
Further discussions will focus on planning the FRLD’s second High-Level Dialogue aimed at enhancing complementarity and coherence across the global climate response architecture. A dedicated civil society session will also be held to promote transparency and participatory decision-making.
As 2026 ASEAN Chair, the Philippines has been consistently underscoring the urgency of bridging the gap between climate commitments and the actual needs of vulnerable communities, a position strongly advocated during the 64th UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies session in Bonn in June.
“For us, the significance of the Fund extends beyond its financial resources. It reflects the principles of international cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility that underpin the global climate regime. As climate-related impacts continue to intensify, the effective operationalization of the Fund is critical for developing countries facing disproportionate risks,” Cuna added.
The Fund entered its operational phase during COP30 when it made its inaugural call for funding requests, which closed on June 15, 2026. It is poised to begin delivering support under the Barbados Implementation Modalities, which carries an initial allocation of US$250 million in grant-based, country-led, and country-owned projects.
The Philippines has submitted its own proposal, the Archipelagic Loss and Damage Responses from Local to National Recovery (ALON) project, seeking to establish the country’s first integrated model for addressing climate-induced loss and damage through ecosystem restoration, livelihood recovery, community financing mechanisms, and strengthened local governance in climate-vulnerable communities in Catanduanes and Sarangani provinces from 2027 to 2032.
Since being selected as the FRLD Board host in 2024, the Philippines has hosted several Board meetings advancing the Fund’s operationalization. The Eighth Board Meeting was held in Zambia in April 2026. (*)
