THE government has laid out plans for the gradual shift toward a greener Philippine economy in order to ensure sustainable economic growth despite the threat of climate change.

This was stressed by Climate Change commission Secretary Mary Ann Lucille  Sering, noting that the Philippines now has a National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) that will serve as road map to address the causes and effects of climate change, and its impact on the economy.

Speaking during a symposium organized by the Philippine-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Sering said the NCCAP was a product of multisector collaboration initiated by the climate change body, which seeks to promote broader citizens’ participation in governance.

Held at Mandarin Oriental in Makati last week, the symposium dubbed as “Greening the Philippine Economy: Getting Ready for the Future Today” was attended by representatives from the business sector, nongovernmental organizations and foreign funding institutions.

She said they have identified in the plan, under the theme Climate Smart Industries and Sustainable Energy, various strategies that will be pursued for a successful transition to climate smart development and toward green growth.

 “We believe that green growth is a sensible approach to sustainable economic growth to help us reduce poverty, and at the same time, achieve social progress, protect the environment and our diminishing natural resources, and adapt and mitigate the impacts of changing climates,” Sering said.