Korea goes with UN ESCAP
UN ESCAP is the regional commission that was established in Shanghai in 1947 and has been doing research/consultanting 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 donates about US$500 thousand per year through Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund, and US$1.5 million from UN APCICT. These aids reflect the contribution of Korea for economic and social development in the Asia-Pacific area. As a result, Chung Rae-won, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador on Climate Change, was appointed to the positioned of Director of Environment and Development Division of at UN ESCAP and Hah Dong-woo, Director of Transportation Infrastructure and was promoted to the Chief of Transportation Division of US ESCAP.
Korea improves its leadership in Green Growth
Korea expects a successful hosting of the conference of ESCAP, which will contribute to the economic and social development in the Asia-Pacific area. Thereby, this will improve the status of Korea as a leader nation within the Asia-Pacific area.
Particularly, through the "Incheon Declaration", Korea is going to suggest the direction of regional cooperation to Asia-Pacific region for promoting/achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Korea will indicate its "low carbon, green growth" policies as a new growth paradigm to the international community, especially the Asia-Pacific region. Since Korea has been a leader in Green Growth therefore, many countries in the Asia-Pacific area are following Korea's example.
In addition, Korea will promote its policy for the disabled at "The Final assessment for the 2nd Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012)" scheduled to be held in 2012. Asia-Pacific Disabled 10 years plan was started in 1993, which improves the quality of life for the disabled. A new resolution for the next 10 years from 2013, is going to be adopted at the assessment meeting. And the Korean Government hopes that they will be performing the leading role for many more years.
The UN ESCAP had considered three regions to set up its office to strengthen the UN development such as Northeast Asia, Central Asia, and Southwest Asia. However, Songdo, Incheon succeeded to attract the UN ESCAP Northeast Asia sub-regional office at the end of a dead heat with Beijing in September 2009.
Songdo was chosen because of its high-tech infrastructures, excellent location and conditions and the Korean Government contributed to UN ESCAP. The Songdo office will be focusing on sustainable development, including green growth and energy efficiency, technology, environmental hazards & risk management, poverty reduction and transport facilitation.
Following is an Interview with Kim Jong-hoon, Minister for Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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(Gross National Income) 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, Lee Myung-bak, President of Korea, 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 Kong-il, Chairman of the Presidential Committee for the of the G20 summit, 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 comittee. In addition, we are planning to pick up the major concerns from non-member countries of the G20 nations.
