Related ministries agree to pursue annual regular meetings; civil aviation authority MOU to support aviation carbon neutrality pledge

GGGI Director-General Kim Sang-hyup (third from left) poses for a photo with Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega and other officials. [GGGI]
GGGI Director-General Kim Sang-hyup (third from left) poses for a photo with Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega and other officials. [GGGI]

The Global Green Growth Institute has secured a core contribution from the Philippine government — the first time a developing-country member has contributed to the organization's core fiscal resources — in a move that could encourage broader participation from other developing nations.

GGGI announced Wednesday that Director-General Kim Sang-hyup held a high-level bilateral meeting with Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, a former Philippine ambassador to South Korea.

The two sides reviewed strategic cooperation projects tied to the Philippines' next regional priorities, including methane reduction, low-carbon rice development and the adoption of green technology.

They also launched working-level discussions on drafting a Philippines-GGGI Country Program (2026–2028) to strengthen long-term alignment with the country's national green growth goals.

Building on the contribution, GGGI signed an MOU with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to advance sustainable aviation cooperation.

The two organizations will put in place an operational framework to support the Philippines' aviation carbon neutrality pledge and accelerate implementation of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel roadmap, which sets blending mandates of 1 percent by 2030 and 10 percent by 2040.

Undersecretary Dizon-De Vega expressed support for holding an annual regular meeting involving government ministries and donor agencies to share progress and improve coordination among key stakeholders. "I will make sure that the diverse climate projects GGGI is pursuing are firmly recognized across the relevant ministries," she said.

Director-General Kim welcomed the Philippines' commitment to cutting aviation emissions. "Given the growth trajectory of the aviation industry, this cooperation carries significant weight not only for reducing transport emissions but also for job creation and industrial development," he said.


thlee@heraldcorp.com