Overview
Background and Context
The Philippine-German Cooperation Program Private Sector Promotion (PSP SMEDSEP), a joint undertaking of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), which was concluded in December 2012, assisted the Philippine Government in improving the frame condit
ions for private sector development. As one of its initiatives in its final phase, the Program supported DTI to address the growing concern among micro, small and medium enterprises on the effects of climate change by introducing the concept of green economy—the pursuit of economic growth and development while preventing costly environmental degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of natural resources—into the MSME Development Plan 2011 to 2016. It promotes a green economy strategy founded on the five pillars of mitigation, adaptation, competitiveness, green jobs and preserving or even improving nature's capital. ProGED and the green growth concept
When pursuing Green Economic Development policy makers attempt to address the following five pillars and their foundation
Mitigation: reduce GHG emissions, thereby contributing to mitigating impacts of disasters which affect individuals and businesses. Adaptation: assist individuals and businesses to adapt to changes caused by climate variations and severe weather conditions as well as long term changes in sectoral trends caused by them. Competitiveness: improve the long term competitiveness of companies by helping them develop and implement sustainable / green business strategies. Green jobs: make use of growth opportunities and market potentials that arise from investments into mitigation and adaptation as well as new products and services needed in a green economy. Nature's capital: maintain or even restore nature's capital (ecosystems, biodiversity, natural resources) through recognizing their true value for both companies and the society.