On May 13, 2010, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific, ESCAP (UN ESCAP) will be held in Songdo, Incheon. The 66th UN ESCAP is going to discuss about "addressing challenges in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), promoting a stable and supportive financial system and green growth or environmentally sustainable economic growth through technology and financing." This is Korea's second time to hold this meeting since the 47th UN ESCAP in Seoul in 1991. This time about 300 delegates from 62 member nations, 100 representatives of NGO, and around 200 people from international organizations plan to attend the conference. The ESCAP conference is going to start with a welcoming address by Korea's Prime Minster, Chung Un-chan on May 17.
UN ESCAP is the regional commission that was established in Shanghai in 1947 and has been doing research/consultant for the Asia-Pacific area ever since. Financing is covered by regular budget resources and voluntary contributions from members of the United Nations and other international organizations (non-budget, extra budgetary contribution). Korea also donates about US$500 thousand per year through Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund, and US$1.5 million from UN APCICT.
Korea expects the successful hosting of the conference of ESCAP to contribute to the economic and social development in Asia-Pacific area. Thereby, this will improve the status of Korea as a leader nation within the Asia-Pacific area.
Following is an Interview with Kim Jong-hoon, the chair for the conference.
Q: What is the vision of Korea for developing the economy in the Asia-Pacific area
A: Looking on the basis of status of MDGs, Asia-Pacific has made progress in hunger reduction and reducing poverty for the past 10 years. Yet, there are still regional and objective variations in the performance. And now the world faces challenges that include climate change, humanitarian crisis and it will not be easy to accomplish the MDG by 2015 with the existing procedures. Therefore, Korea has been expanding its Official Development Assistance (ODA) and has decided to increase the level of ODA: GNI ratio three times more from the current level. Korea will continue to support countries that have diplomatic, economic and cultural ties with Korea. And at the same time, the countries that have the poorest and most vulnerable attainment of MDGs will get special support from Korea. Korea plans to suggest a vision to the countries for the promotion and development via cooperation with UN ESCAP.
Q: Do you think low-carbon; green growth policies could cause a ripple effect on the international community And what do countries need to do for green growth
A: Since the declaration is titled "Declaration on Green Growth", which was approved by OECD last year, OECD has adopted green growth strategy for the 21st century and plans to support every country. Low carbon and green growth might be the right response to climate change. Along with the development of low-carbon technologies and industries, social and economic system will create more jobs.
Green growth strategy does not involve only simple economic changes; it rather affects life in general. Therefore, social and cultural changes will have economic ripple effects and it will impact future prospects. However, green growth has been progressed mainly by advanced countries, so developing countries and emerging economies, which are in the different stages of development, cannot easily adopt this growth strategy. To solve this problem, developed countries need to make efforts to support long-term growth strategies for developing nations.
Q: What is the role of Korea as a successful model of green growth
July 2009, was when the Korean Government accepted "Green Growth" as its national vision. Thereby, Korea has established the "low-carbon, Green Growth Act" and it has been in operation since April 2010. Korea is planning to build green infrastructures and create green jobs under the Green New Deal. Korea will invest two percent of its GDP for Green Growth while the UN recommends one percent of GDP for expenses. Last December, President of Korea, Lee Myung-bak stated, "Korea is going to establish the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which will systematically develop green growth and its purpose is to help the green policy development for developing countries."
Q: For the successful hosting of the G20 meeting, which will be held in Seoul, is there any ongoing plan
A: Under the Presidency of Sa Gong-il, head of the planning committee for the G20 conference, we will host a luncheon meeting titled "G20 Outreach" on May 18. Senior representatives of the G20 nations will be attending the luncheon. At the meeting, we will describe the agenda and the status of the G20 conference. In addition, we are planning to pick up the major concerns from non-member countries of the G20 nations. (FYI: There are 10 countries of G20 out of 62 ESCAP member countries (including 9 associate member countries))