Guests from Philippine government agencies, nongovernment organizations, German experts and members of the media celebrated with the German diplomats and experts in the Philippines the 10th anniversary of International Climate Initiative (IKI) on May 30.
German Ambassador Dr. Gordon Kricke welcomed the friends of IKI at his residence in Forbes Park to celebrate the 10 years of Philippine-German cooperation in the fight against climate change and for the conservation of biodiversity.
The intimate but cheerful IKI anniversary reception brought together partners engaged in climate action with very diverse backgrounds—but all of them united through their involvement in Philippine-German joint efforts. The IKI is a program of the German government that was established in 2008 with the Philippines as one of the program’s focus countries in Southeast Asia.
Since then the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BUM, or Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit in German) has supported projects in the Philippines with over €62 million.
In addition to this, the BMU is dedicating more funds of up to €35 million for new activities following the Philippine government’s declared focus, as part of Germany’s stepping up its climate engagement to the country.
In his welcome remarks, Kricke highlighted the important achievements of IKI in the Philippines in the last 10 years.
The ambassador said he is “satisfied” that the Philippines is one of IKI “key” partners.
He cited the improved management of and livelihood in 60 out of 240 protected areas, successful protection of coastal environments and wildlife, and ambitious climate activities like the development of the Philippines national Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus strategy.
“I saw several projects myself,” he said.
He noted that the protection of biodiversity is on top of the efforts.
Impressed by the diversity of the projects in the Philippines, Kricke wishes for the continued success of IKI in the country and the strengthened cooperation between the two countries.
“We all know that the Philippines is affected by the consequences of global warming,” he said, referring to the extreme weather conditions, such as the supertyphoons that struck the country in recent years.
For the Philippine government, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, who is also the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, confirmed the Philippine government’s appreciation for the German support through IKI.
For Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the main implementing agency of IKI activities, its Philippines Country Director Irina Scheffmann illustrated the different initiatives from the 60 project areas in the Philippine-German climate partnership.
She cited that a project in Panay mountain region has resulted in 36-percent improvement in income of local beneficiaries.
IKI is a key element of Germany’s climate financing mechanism and the funding commitments made under the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The initiative focuses on climate-change mitigation, adaptation to the impacts of climate change and the protection of biological diversity. These efforts provide various co-benefits, particularly the improvement of living conditions in partner countries.
The main IKI implementing organizations in the Philippines are GIZ, United Nations Development Programme, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Habitat, Plan International, Renewables Academy AG, Rare Inc., International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-Local Governments for Sustainability and World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Philippines.
The resounding message at the event: the first 10 years of IKI collaboration have brought intensive cooperation—to be continued in the coming years.
Image credits: Alysa Salen