By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter
Korea will take the lead in fostering ``Green Customs'' in the Asia-Pacific region to prevent the cross-border shipments of environmentally harmful goods, save energy and introduce other environment-friendly practices, Korea Customs Services (KCS) Commissioner Hur Yong-suk said Tuesday.
He proposed three plans of action to make customs procedures across the region more energy efficient and environmentally sound.
In a keynote speech addressed to 70 participants of the ``Green Customs Forum & Workshop'' held at the Lotte Hotel on the southern island of Jeju, Hur said customs is the perfect entity to serve as the environmental guardian in the most efficient way in the ever-changing global trade environment.
The event began on Nov. 3 and lasts through Nov. 6. Participants include customs officials from 32 Asia Pacific nations, as well as delegates from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Customs Organization (WCO), Interpol and other multinational bodies.
``Now, environment is an existential issue of the world. We are facing global warming and rising sea-level, relentless hunting of wildlife and destruction of ecosystems, environmental pollution by illegal industrial waste. These are already becoming serious obstacles to sustainable development and even threatening the existence of human beings,'' the commissioner said.
He then said these environmental challenges cannot be met by efforts of any single country, stressing the importance of international cooperation, coordination with other organizations and proper information sharing among customs authorities around the world.
``The WCO set out 30 Action Plans in five Environmental Areas in Feb. 2008 and recommended active involvement of custom members in environmental activities. In response, Korea Customs has carried out practical efforts, including recycling of seized goods, tariff abatement for green products, and e-clearance and logistics system,'' Hur said, adding that the KCS has recognized the importance of customs' role in preserving the environment and turned environmental issues into a ``blue ocean'' in customs administration.
The customs agency here has set and implemented two green strategies ― ``green by customs'' and ``green of customs'' ― and 14 specific plans from early this year. ``As a result, the KCS detected $2.3 million worth of environmentally harmful goods at the borders this year alone, and plans to double the figure next year. One of the 14 action plans we are focusing the most on is the e-document project,'' Hur said.
He said if three types of trade documents were filed 100 percent electronically, it is expected to save 22,430 30-year old pine trees and preserve 330,000 square meters of forest, while generating 133 tons of oxygen and absorbing 50 tons of CO2.
Hur then made three proposals as vice chair of the WCO Asia Pacific region for the concerted environmental efforts in the region. ``First, we should engage in in-depth discussions on green customs strategy and action plans during the 13th WCO Asia Pacific regional heads of Customs Administration Conference to be held in Seoul next April. Second, we should add environment-related action plans to the next regional strategic plan, which will guide custom members about environmental activities.''
The commissioner suggested the building of an environment network of Asia Pacific customs to check and update the implementation of the action plan constantly, as well as promote networks among members.