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The German Embassy Manila, in cooperation with the Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia project, hosted the first edition of Climate Talks Philippines Manila at Yspace at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City on April 18, 2023.
The event, which carried the theme: “Responsible climate action and enabling decarbonization in the Philippine energy sector: Pathways for a sustainable future”, served as a platform for members of government, the business community, and the private sector, to come together and discuss the necessary steps, roles, and possible contributions in relation to responsible climate action.
Climate Talks are an instrument of Germany’s diplomacy to bring together, experts, stakeholders and civil society to exchange and find solutions to the current climate crisis.
The event’s opening ceremony began with a speech by German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel, and welcoming remarks by Department of Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella. German State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action Jennifer Lee Morgan delivered the event’s keynote speech, highlighting her visit to Tacloban and the city’s experiences of Typhoon Haiyan back in 2013. She underscored that Germany has a lead role in climate action and called for solidarity with vulnerable communities through new funding arrangements for Loss and Damage as decided at COP27.
The subsequent discussion was held among a distinguished panel with Morgan and Fuentebella who were joined on stage by Atty. Angela Gia Ibay, Climate Change and Energy Programme Head of the WWF Philippines, Dr. Faye Abigail Cruz, Laboratory Head of the Manila Observatory, and Mr. Caldwell Gregory Hoey, Renewable Energy Director of the MATEC Maschinen & Technik Inc. The panel was moderated by Ruth Yu-Owen, President of Upgrade Energy Philippines, Inc.