GIZ pushes for climate action at the 20th Asia NatCAT and Climate Change Summit

Immanuel Gebhardt, Country Director of GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Islands, and Andrea Teran, Principal Advisor of the GIZ project Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Disaster Resilience (E4DR) in the Philippines share climate action initiatives of GIZ at the Asia Summit on Natural Catastrophe and Climate Change held in Makati City, 10-11 July. 

Speaking on a topic “Building Resilience Through Community-Driven Risk Reduction," Mr. Gebhardt highlighted that GIZ’s work in the Philippines focuses on adaptation to climate change. He shared his stories on the visits of the German Ambassador and the German State Secretary in Leyte where the deadly Guinsaugon landslide occurred in 2006 and the super typhoon Haiyan hit in 2013. He stressed that “loss & damage” due to climate change is an important topic for Germany and is among the major supporters of the Global Shield program.

Ms. Teran joined in a panel discussion on “How Organizations can Promote Sustainable Practices within Communities," where she shared how the E4DR Project is working with the local government units and the insurance industry in increasing the resilience of the community through ecosystem-based adaptation and climate resiliency insurance.  She also described another GIZ project which considers climate change in the context of migration -- "Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change."

The Summit was organized by the Asia Insurance Review (AIR) jointly with the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA). The Summit was attended to by around 95 participants from various countries in Asia. For more information: 24-NatCAT-Brochure 080724.pdf (asiainsurancereview.com)