Internationally, South Korea aims for actively participating in climate change negotiations and making efforts to support developing countries through international organizations specialized in climate change such as GCF (Green Climate Fund) and GGGI (Global Green Growth Institute), the headquarters of which are located in Korea.

Also, the Korean government has made efforts to implement policies that combine climate change response and national sustainable development goals (K-SDGs) that are appropriate to the situation in Korea, by setting up a solid implementation system for the post-war period. To this end, it is promoting measures such as amendment and supplementation of the 2030 roadmap, enforcement of emissions trading system, and energy transition policy.

Meanwhile, since the conclusion of COP21 in Paris in 2015, 197 Parties of COP21 have so far negotiated for publication of a detailed rulebook to operationalize the Agreement.

In this context, Korea hosted the 48th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Incheon on Oct. 1. IPCC is an international organization jointly established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Program in 1988. The total number of member countries is 195, and Prof. Lee Hoe-sung of Korea University has been serving as the 6th chairman since 2015.

President Moon Jae-in said at the opening ceremony, “Together we will produce a strong, robust and clear Summary for Policymakers that responds to the invitation of governments three years ago while upholding the scientific integrity of the IPCC,” highlighting Korea’s national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, at the UN General Assembly on September 26, President Moon said that Korea will help developing countries counter climate change.

Representatives of the IPCC’s 195 member governments will work with experts and scientists from IPCC in Incheon until October 5 to finalize the Summary for Policymakers of the report, entitled Global Warming of 1.5°C, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. In addition to holding the 48th IPCC, Korea has participated in writing and publishing the sixth evaluation report as the sixth chair state and tries to expand its role in IPCC.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the ministry responsible for South Korea’s negotiating on climate change issues, and Ambassador for Climate Change of MOFA, whose name is Yoo Yeon-chul, is the chief representative of the negotiations. MOFA has overseen related negotiations.

We appreciate Korea’s commitment and leadership for helping international community work together against climate change. We hope South Korea can continue making its efforts to facilitate international dialogues.

Dear Ambassador Yoo Yeon-chul

International community apricates South Kore’s leadership to facilitate important dialogues on climate change. However, its financial contribution remains relatively marginal. We (Climate Scorecard) would like to encourage Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collaborate more with Ministry of Economy and Finance to build up Korea’s more comprehensive action plans to help developing countries’ climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and to contribute globally.

Contact:
Ambassador for Climate Change of MOFA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Address. 60, Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Postal Code 03172)
Tel. +82- 02-2100-7781
Fax. +82- 02-2100-7996

Secretary’s info
Tel. +82- 02-2100-7780
Fax. +82- 02-2100-7996

Sources.
World Meteorological Organization (Oct. 1, 2018) https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/intergovernmental-panel-climate-change-considers-15%C2%B0c-report
Policy Brief (Sep. 27, 2018) http://www.korea.kr/policy/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156296302
Yonhap News (Oct. 1, 2018) http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2018/10/01/0200000000AKR20181001076600004.HTML