Germany to boost Philippines climate change projects

The German government has pledged to support the climate change programs and initiatives of the Philippines from building local community resilience to raising awareness, climate adaptation activities, capacity development, generation of green jobs and investment in clean energy.

Disaster prevention, community resilience and climate adaptation are important component of addressing climate change in the Philippines, said Norbert Gorissen, head of the International Climate Finance of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building Nuclear Safety (BMUB).

Gorissen, who met with Philippine Climate Change Commission Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering said more than 10 projects are in the pipeline to assist the country address climate change.

During his visit in the country, Gorissen also went to the Yolanda-hit areas in the Visayas region. He was joined by Ambassador of Germany to the Philippines Thomas Ossowski and German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Michael Hasper.

The German officials also met with the officials of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Among the issues discussed were climate change policies and investment in the country as well as on climate change adaptation and mitigation in the Philippines’ climate agenda.

“ These projects are aligned with our priorities and are consistent with the Philippine Climate Act, the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change and the National Climate change Action Plan,” Sering explained.

Sering said Germany and the Philippines has long been working together on projects dealing with climate change adaptation and mitigation with support from the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of BMUB.

IKI has been financing climate projects in developing and newly industrialized countries, as well as countries in transition since 2008.