The Philippines is at high risk from rising sea levels and a projected increase in severe tropical storms due to its geography and location. The vulnerability of its population to climate change is made worse by high poverty levels, and the negative environmental and social impacts of the country’s large natural resource extraction industries such as mining and logging. To increase its resilience, the country has implemented a strong, coordinated strategy – the Philippines’ Climate Change Act – to mainstream climate compatible development into local planning. This ‘Inside story on climate compatible development’ by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network explores what it will take for this leading climate programme to succeed. The brief concludes that the successful devolution of climate change strategies to the local government level will require effective coordination and support at the national level, through finance and capacity building.