 Committee on Green Growth |
Co-Chair, Presidential Committee on Green Growth
An Chang-ho ― a revered Korean independence leader during the Japanese occupation ― called for renovation of national territory so that mountains will be filled with trees and rivers affluent with freshwater, and along the rivers commerce, agriculture and industry will flourish.
It must have been words of inspiration for President Lee Myung-bak who initiated the ``Revitalization of the four major rivers'' as one of the key projects under the $38.5-billion ``Green New Deal.''
Climate change is being found in all areas of life ― from weather and agriculture to fisheries. Undoubtedly, however, the negative effects of climate change are most evident in the area of water.
Water-related disasters, such as flood and drought, are increasing in numbers and intensity. The annual social cost from flood has increased 15 times since the 1970s.
The government spends an average of 5.3 trillion won per year on flood-related costs, of which 79 percent is on restoration. Water scarcity is also becoming an alarming issue. It is expected that Korea will be short of 0.8 billion cubic meters in 2011, and 1 billion cubic meters by 2016.
Building climate resilience, improving water quality and access to water, while at the same time creating jobs in times of economic depression, will definitely be in line with the paradigm of green growth set as the national vision of Korea on Aug. 15, 2008.
As described in the United Nations report ``Global Green New Deal,'' freshwater infrastructure is one highly recommended project for the global community in the age of climate and economic crises.
The water crisis is not just a domestic problem, but also a global issue. In particular, countries in Asia top the list of countries that are most vulnerable to water-related damage.
The melting of the Himalayan glacier, which feeds into many of the rivers in Asia, will most likely have a long-lasting effect on the geo-political structure of the region. Some regions have had a long history of water-related conflicts. Such conflicts will likely be more intensified due to global climate change.
To many countries in Asia, the key issue on climate change is not about reduction of greenhouse gases, but adapting to the changing climate. Scientists tell us that even if the global community stopped emitting greenhouse gases altogether, we would continue to experience climate change in the future.
In this regard, it is very timely that the ``East Asia Climate Forum'' is being held in Seoul to discuss how to achieve green growth in this troubling time. It is our hope that this forum will play an important role in sharing knowledge and finding solutions to the water crisis in Asia.
Just as the remarkable economic growth of Korea in last few decades was a valuable lesson for many developing countries, the revitalization of the four major rivers project and the paradigm of "Low Carbon Green Growth" can also be a valuable solution for many countries.
The writer is co-chair of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth.
