Metro Manila Mayors and Local Government Officials visit GCA’s Floating Office Rotterdam

R otterdam, the Netherlands, 19^th April 2023 – A delegation of Mayors and local government officials from Metro Manila visited the floating office of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in Rotterdam today. 
 
The visit was part of the delegation’s tour of the city of Rotterdam, which is known for its innovative urban design and climate adaptation solutions. The Metro Manila officials are in the Netherlands on a study tour to learn about best practices in sustainable development.

The Philippines faces some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world, which are projected to intensify with climate change. The country is highly exposed to tropical cyclones, flooding and landslides. Sea level rise has been observed at 60 centimeters – three times that of the global average. 
 
Composed of 16 highly urbanized cities with a population of roughly 13.4 million, Metro Manila is ranked the most vulnerable city in the world. The National Capital Region of the Philippines is particularly threatened by the impact of storm surges with increased wave heights due to climate change. 
 
During the delegation’s visit to Rotterdam, GCA Director of External Affairs Mike Girling and Senior Communications Manager Celine Novenario delivered a presentation on the importance of climate adaptation, GCA’s role as adaptation solutions broker, and its burgeoning work on replicating the success of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program in Asia. 
 
Hon. John Reynald M. Tiangco, Mayor of Navotas spoke about the challenges faced by their cities due to climate change, noting that Metro Manila is located within the ‘typhoon belt’. “We know how important it is to be climate resilient,” Mayor Tiangco said, noting that their cities had already incorporated disaster risk and climate resilience into their city planning to keep their constituents safe. “We are firmly committed to adaptation. I hope that this becomes the start of partnerships for years to come.”
 
The delegation visited GCA’s Floating Office to appreciate its climate-resilient design elements up-close – the floating and reusable base, which allows the structure to rise and fall with the changing water levels; the green roof, which stores rainwater; the wood construction, which stores CO₂; and the solar panels and heat pumps, which provide energy and heat to the building. 
 
Following the visit to GCA, the delegation had a discussion with officials from the city of Rotterdam to share strategies on resilience and opportunities for collaboration.
 
The delegation also visited other examples of climate adaptation solutions in the city: the combined recreational and stormwater storage space Benthemplein Water Square; the revamped railway viaduct Hofbogen; the rainwater collection initiative Regentuin (Rain Garden); and the sustainable neighborhood Zomerhofkwartier (ZOHO).  

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