Germany funnels P1B into Philippines climate program

MANILA, Philippines – The government of Germany is allocating more than P1 billion to assist the Philippines’ climate resiliency programs.

According to the Climate Change Commission(CCC), the German government has allocated 4.7 million euros or approximately P238 million for support to the Philippines in shaping and implementing the International Climate Regime (SupportCCC II).

“In addition, Germany allocated another 17.1 million euros or roughly P868 million for new climate change projects in the country starting in 2016,” Joyceline Goco, CCC assistant secretary, said in a statement.

Last Friday, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the CCC launched the SupportCCC II.

GIZ is a company that specializes in international development. It is owned by the German federal government and operates in over 130 countries.

Since the passing of the Climate Change Act of 2009 and the development of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2011- 2028, the implemention of the NCCAP is being undertaken by the CCC.

Goco said the project links to and contributes to the accomplishment of the seven thematic priorities of the NCCAP, and the German government has shown its support to the achievement of these seven priorities through technical and financial assistance.

The seven priorities are: food security, water sufficiency, ecological and environmental stability, human security, climate-friendly industries and services, sustainable energy, and knowledge and capacity development.

The CCC said the growing prevalence of climate and disaster risks throughout the country is a problem that the Phili-ppine-German cooperation on climate change could address.