The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, May 21, 2022 | 11:50
Lee champions green growth at Rio+20 meeting
Posted : 2012-06-21 17:27
Updated : 2012-06-21 17:27
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

President Lee Myung-bak, center, smiles with other world leaders during a signing ceremony held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday local time, for turning the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) into an official international organization. The ceremony took place following the opening ceremony of the Rio+20 Summit. / Yonhap

By Kim Young-jin

President Lee Myung-bak championed his “green growth” strategy as a way to address a host of global issues including the economy and environment during a major speech in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

During a busy schedule at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, Lee also signed a treaty to transform Seoul’s green-growth think tank into an international organization and pledged $5 billion by 2020 to assist developing countries to achieving economic growth via clean technologies.

"We need green growth in order to realize sustainable development in response to global challenges, including the economic crisis, the widening gap between the rich and poor and climate change," he said before an audience of tens of thousands.

Green growth is a signature initiative of Lee’s administration that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop clean energy technology as growth engines.

He touted the drive as a way to promote sustainable development worldwide but said it was up to the international community to seize the opportunity. "The best way to predict the future is to make the future we want. The future we want lies in our hands.”

The speech came after Lee attended the G20 Summit in Mexico. Dozens of heads of state attended the sustainable development conference.

Representatives from 15 countries including Lee signed a treaty to upgrade the local Global Green Growth Institute, which aims to develop ways to promote clean energy, into an international project. It was the first time the nation led a drive to create an international organization.

Korea has invested some 2 percent of its gross domestic product in green growth. The policy aims to drive down dependence on fossil fuels and improve alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power.

Lee’s speech came after the National Assembly recently passed legislation to establish an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) ­ a key part of the strategy _ putting the country on track to become the first developing country to do so, though observers note that many details regarding the structure of the scheme remain to be worked out.

Lee will wrap up his Latin America trip after visits to Chile and Colombia later this week.
Emailyjk@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • Pro-, anti-Biden demonstrations to be held in front of Hyatt hotel
  • S-Oil CEO apologizes for deadly refinery explosion in Ulsan
  • Biden arrives in South Korea for first summit with Yoon
  • South Korea-Japan relations in the shadow of Ukraine
  • Samsung, LG expand into appliances with pet care features
  • Yoon, Biden vow to strengthen Korea-US tech alliance
  • Gov't extends mandatory quarantine for COVID-19 patients for 4 more weeks
  • Baseball, dogs: What Yoon, Biden have in common
  • Yoon, Biden to discuss Korea-US tech alliance in nuclear energy
  • South Korea's new COVID-19 cases drop for 3rd day
  • Kim Sae-ron apologizes for her alleged DUI incident Kim Sae-ron apologizes for her alleged DUI incident
  • Reality shows raise concerns by zooming in on private lives of people Reality shows raise concerns by zooming in on private lives of people
  • TvN drama 'Rose Mansion' criticized for animal abuse scene TvN drama 'Rose Mansion' criticized for animal abuse scene
  • Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria' Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria'
  • 'The Roundup' off to record-setting start at box office 'The Roundup' off to record-setting start at box office
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group