Green Economy is a system of economic activities related to the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services that brings about “improved human wellbeing and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities” (UNEP1 2009). Simply put, Green Economy is “low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
The manufacturing sector of the Philippines is challenged to significantly strengthen its competitiveness in order to be prepared for the challenges lying ahead. Seeing the worldwide dynamics of industrial development and the integration process of the ASEAN Economic Community, it becomes obvious that the manufacturing industry needs to successfully position itself as a globally competitive industry on domestic, regional and global markets.
The topic green growth (GG) has gained importance over the past years, also within partner countries of German Development Cooperation. Policy papers have mushroomed, highlighting the importance of tackling the challenges of climate change. Concepts on how to put these policies into practice, however, are rare. Against this background the Sector Project in cooperation with the Private Sector Promotion Program in the Philippines (PSP) commissioned in 2010 a study on integrating green growth strategies into the MSME Development Plan 2011 – 2016 of the Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines. A further output of this policy and strategy advice mission was a concept note on how to anchor green growth strategies into the economic development approach of the German Technical Assistance (TA). While both papers helped to develop a comprehensive overall green growth approach, work now needs to be intensified on how to break this down to the level of implementation in different intervention areas of PSD.