Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said the Philippines is set to receive at least $8 million in funds to address the country’s battle on climate change.
In a press briefing on Monday, Lopez told reporters that the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund will give the country access to $3 million that will help address climate change.
“Next year [in February], the executive director of the Green Climate Fund is coming, and he’s giving us access to $3 million,” Lopez said, giving an overview on the world climate conference (COP22) in Morocco. But a project proposal is needed before access would be given by the first quarter of 2017.
Lopez added that a German group also committed an additional $5 million for the country.
“We are a good investment for climate change. I also proposed that the Philippines be a laboratory of sorts for climate change. Why? Because the number one country vulnerable to climate change is the Philippines,” Lopez added.
The country faced stronger typhoons for the past few years – the strongest one in 2013 with typhoon Yolanda – that hit the Visayas area leaving 7,500 people dead or missing.
“If there’s going to be any research on adaptation measures, it should be done here in the Philippines. If any adaptation measure works here in the Philippines and our people get safe, it would probably work anywhere else in the world,” Lopez said.
The GCF was created to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries, and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the impact of climate change.