Gwangju to host environmental summit

By Kim Tae-jong

Mayors and delegations from international cities have been invited by Gwangju City Government Thursday to take part in the 2011 Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords (UEA) slated for October.

“The urban environment problem is a global issue, which can only be tackled through cooperation among international cities,” Kim Kwi-gon, chief commissioner of the event said.

“We need to get together to discuss green growth and promoting a green economy for sustainable development,” he said.

About 70 percent of greenhouse gas emission comes from urban areas, which only take up 2 percent of the earth, Kim said, who is an emeritus professor at Seoul National University.

To ask for support for the event, Gwangju held a briefing session, with ambassadors to Korea and asked them to encourage active participation by mayors and delegations from their countries for the event.

Ambassadors and delegations from about 30 embassies in Seoul joined in the session.

Currently, 51 cities have expressed their hope to participate in the event, and the organization committee expects the number to rise to 65 cities.

Under the theme of “Green City, Better City,” the event is co-hosted by the Gwangju Metropolitan City Government, United Nations Environment Program, and the city of San Francisco. It will take place from Oct. 12 to 13 at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju.