President to attend UN climate change conference

President Lee Myung-bak will visit Copenhagen for two days starting Dec. 17 to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Blue House announced yesterday.

While many aides have opposed Lee’s trip to Copenhagen due to a series of sensitive political events at home, particularly the Sejong City matter, the Blue House decided that it was necessary for the president to attend the conference because Korea will be the host of next year’s G-20 summit, a senior Lee aide said.

“And the world has shown deep interest in Korea’s earlier announcement of its greenhouse gas emission goals,” the source said. “Domestic politics concerning the budget and Sejong City could have been a reason for Lee to stay home, but we believed it is more appropriate for Lee to attend the Copenhagen summit.”

On Nov. 17, the government announced it would voluntarily cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from its 2020 forecast in the run-up to the climate conference, although the country is not required to reduce its emissions according to current UN climate protection agreements.

During his Nov. 19 summit here with Lee, U.S. President Barack Obama dubbed Korea’s voluntary target “a model for emerging economies.”

Lee will deliver a keynote speech on the day of his arrival to introduce Korea’s efforts to cope with climate change, including its push for green growth and a proposal for developing countries to establish a registry of nationally appropriate mitigation actions. The registry is designed to invite developing countries to voluntarily mitigate emissions and to provide necessary international aid.

Lee will then participate in a summit on Dec. 18, when more leaders will be in attendance, including Obama. According to foreign media, Obama revised his schedule to meet with many other world leaders on that day.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is also set to join the Dec. 18 summit.

The Chinese government recently announced that by 2020 its carbon dioxide emissions per GDP will be reduced by 40 to 45 percent from its 2005 level.

President Lee will also propose in Copenhagen that the upcoming G-20 summit, scheduled for next November, make climate change a key agenda item and strengthen international cooperation. About 190 nations will gather in Copenhagen from Dec. 7 to 18 to set the framework for a treaty to curb carbon dioxide emissions, the key culprit behind global warming.

By Seo Ji-eun, Ser Myo-ja [spring@joongang.co.kr]