By Brian Jules Campued
Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock has expressed interest in tackling climate change mitigation, particularly setting up a loss and damage fund with the Philippines during a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Thursday, Jan. 12.
“This is also something which we believe can be a next step in our cooperation on the climate issue, even mentioning the loss and damage fund. This is really dear to my heart because I was doing a lot of policy beforehand. We said we have to do something about loss and damage,” the German foreign minister said during the meeting.
Baerbock cited German companies’ intent to invest in the Philippine renewable energy sector which can further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
This will open discussions on raw materials and skilled labor, Baerbock added.
“I think this is really a field where it’s a win-win situation, or even a triple win situation for employees, for workers, also for our countries, and therefore we are looking forward to it,” she said.
President Marcos likewise thanked Germany for cooperating with the Philippines, stressing that Germany has been a “vital partner” in addressing climate change due to its introduction of important technologies to the country.
“Thank you very much for the assistance. And I hope that you will be able to support us in our efforts to bring the assessments of those different issues to the Philippines,” the chief executive told the German official.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said last month that the country would call the member-nations of the Loss and Damage Board to address biodiversity destruction and species loss, especially in vulnerable countries.
Pledges for the Loss and Damage Fund reached $792 million as of December 2023, exceeding the initial expectation of $200 million.
Baerbock is the first German foreign minister to visit the country after more than a decade. This is part of her visit to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. – cf
