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S
ustainability
P
olicies
, P
rogrammes
and
their
E
conomic
I
mpact
agricultural purposes. Through such efforts, Korea is striving to
achieve green growth throughout the entire production-distribu-
tion-consumption-waste management cycle.
Taking things one step further, Korea is making efforts to spread
its green growth initiative throughout the world and help the
global community to take part in it. Korea, once a recipient of
economic aid from advanced countries, joined the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development
Assistance Committee and transformed itself into a donor country.
It expanded its official development assistance in green growth
finance up to 12.4 per cent, and plans to increase it by 30 per
cent by 2020. With the aim of not only providing the financial
assistance for green growth but also sharing related experiences
and know-how to developing countries as a model of economic
development, Korea set up the Global Green Growth Institute
(GGGI) and the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center,
and is helping developing countries to effectively reduce green-
house gases.
A green economy is not a matter of choice: it is the call of our
time. Angel Gurria, Secretary General of the OECD, stated that green
growth is not ‘a way’ but ‘the (only) way’ to overcome
environmental crisis. I hope that the Rio+20 summit
will stimulate momentum for every participant to bear
commitment and leadership towards green growth and
step forward to achieve the global goal of sustainable
development. In this regard, Korea suggests a brand new
outline of global green economy partnership. This will
take a very creative format, one where advanced and
developing countries, public and private sectors will not
only provide financial support, but also will share experi-
ences of green growth and support for capacity building.
All this will provide a solid foundation for the world to
march towards a green economy. The Green Growth
Knowledge Platform, established by GGGI, OECD,
UNEP and the World Bank in January, 2012, is expected
to demonstrate best practice for the new partnership.
My hope is high for Rio+20 to serve as an effective
guidepost, which will help all of us to deal with the
challenges of today and tomorrow and find a path
towards a better, happier future.
The Four Rivers Restoration Project will restore ecosystems and generate green jobs
Image: Min of Env. Rep of Korea