Korea will host 2nd global green growth summit in 2020

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Korea will host 2nd global green growth summit in 2020

NEW YORK - President Moon Jae-in on Monday attended a United Nations event focused on the international community’s efforts to fight climate change and announced Korea’s plan to host a global green growth summit next year.

Moon attended the United Nations Climate Action Summit in the afternoon and gave a speech to unveil Korea’s pledges and proposal for sustainable development and climate change responses. In his address, Moon said Korea will explore measures for a transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy at the earliest date possible, stressing that the country has been faithfully implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change.

“We adopted a nationwide emission-trading system for the first time in East Asia. We shut down four coal-fired power plants, and six more plants will be closed by 2022,” he said. “This past January, the Korean government made public a hydrogen economy roadmap. We are also promoting the expansion of renewable and hydrogen energy use.”

Moon said Korea’s commitments will be incorporated in its nationally determined contribution and the 2050 long-term low carbon development strategy, scheduled to be submitted next year.

Moon also said Korea will double its contribution to the Green Climate Fund. He also declared that Korea will host the second P4G Summit next year. P4G, or Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, is a new international initiative supported by countries, businesses, international organizations, academia and civil society to find solutions for green economic growth.

“The P4G Summit, to be held in Seoul next June, will provide an opportunity to strengthen the international community’s solidarity behind the implementation of the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals,” Moon said. “If cooperation between the P4G and the Green Climate Fund and the Global Green Growth Institute, both based in Korea, is strengthened, assistance for developing countries will be further increased.”

Moon also proposed the designation of the “International Day for Blue Sky” in his speech, noting that more than 7 million people die prematurely every year due to air pollution. “The international community’s joint efforts to improve air quality are a way to usher in a low-carbon era,” he said. “I call for participation and support from member states.”

Later in the evening, Moon also co-hosted the preparation event for the P4G Summit with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark. In the speech delivered at the event, Moon once again reiterated his plan for Korea’s hosting of the second P4G Summit next year. The first summit was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, last year.

Noting that the two countries cooperated to establish the Green Climate Fund and the Global Green Growth Institute, both headquartered in Korea, Moon said Korea and Denmark will also stand together in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals.

“Next year, the decade of action for decarbonization will commence,” Moon said. “Korea, too, will take part with its action and implementation.”

Moon said Korea will make next year’s P4G Summit an event to bring together professionals, businesses and civil organizations related to the environmental industry and climate change.

“During the first P4G Summit, a total of 17 public-private partnerships were selected for the accomplishment of the global goals,” he said. “This year, 18 public-private partnerships, where Korean companies and institutions participated, were selected. Though it was only launched last year, we have witnessed such achievements as the expanding scope of collaboration among increasingly diverse partners.”

Moon also said a “Seoul Declaration” will be adopted next year to present goals and strategies in five sectors such as water, food and agriculture, energy, cities and circular economy. It will be an upgrade of the Copenhagen Commitment to Action adopted last year after the first summit. “In addition, we will initiate discussions on responses to fine dust, smart cities and the participation of youth and women,” he said.

Moon also said Korea will support sustainable growth in developing countries by linking P4G with the Green Climate Fund and the Global Green Growth Institute. He also promoted a project on forest cooperation between the two Koreas in the border area as a driving force behind peace.

BY SER MYO-JA [ser.myoja@joongang.co.kr]
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