4MAY 2022, SEOUL - Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert E.A. Borje was in the Republic of Korea from 26 to 28 April 2022 for an official visit. The Secretary was able to meet with esteemed Climate Change leaders including former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon who now serves as the President and Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Executive Team of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO).

In each of his meetings with key climate organizations, Secretary Borje personally delivered President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's view on climate issues, highlighting that climate justice is central to the Philippines' position in climate change mitigation and adaptation. He also emphasized the importance of developed nations' assistance to developing countries in achieving global climate goals.

The Philippine Embassy is pleased to note that during Secretary Borje's meeting with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), President and Chairman and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon recognized the Philippines for its commitment to fighting climate change based on the Philippines' ambitious NDC goals, the Paris Climate accord and for our principled positions on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Both officials also recognized the importance of the Philippines-GGGI partnership through the financing of practical climate action projects and green development initiatives in the Philippines.

AFoCO, headed by its Filipino Executive Director Ricardo Calderon, also committed to working closely with the CCC on advancing forest management and capacity-building projects in the Philippines. During the meeting, the CCC Secretary also highlighted the importance of increasing forest cover in climate change mitigation and forest management's great contributions to green development.

In a meeting with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) led by Director for Country Programming Carolina Fuentes, the CCC also agreed to work more closely together to ensure facilitated access to climate finance for climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in the Philippines. Secretary Borje also underscored the importance of supporting practical, pragmatic, and easy-to-monitor projects that can be easily scaled up to ensure success and gain wide public support for green development projects.

The Climate Change Commission also took the opportunity to inspect models of urban planning in the area of Jongno, Seoul, and Songdo, Incheon for best practices in urban climate resilience. Secretary Borje emphasized the importance of incorporating nature in development and green sustainability in infrastructure projects.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega joined Secretary Borje during his official meetings.

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