Jeju Islands aims to become global environmental capital

By Kim Bo-eun

The World Conservation Congress (WCC) will give Jeju Island a good opportunity to emerge as the “world’s environmental capital,” said Woo Keun-min, governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

“The congress will show the international community that the resort island offers a unique experience in terms of conferences and tours,” he said.

The 10-day event will be held in East Asia for the first time after the island beat Cancun, an international resort island in Mexico, in a vote in 2009.

A record number of 10,000 delegates from more than 170 countries are on hand. And the Ministry of Environment, the co-host of the congress with Jeju estimates that the province will gain direct and indirect economic benefits of up to 340 billion won ($299.8 million).

The conference also draws attention to a Jeju Declaration to be issued at the closing of the event. The declaration is expected to include a summary of resolutions that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will recommend the participating countries, governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and firms to consider in their policies.

It will be the first time for the WWC to adopt such a declaration in the IUCN’s history.

“All of these achievements will raise the international reputation of Jeju that is already famous for international conferences and tour attractions,” Gov. Woo said.

He wants to feature the International Convention Center, where the congress will be held, as the “eco-friendly” venue.

The central government and province together invested 17 billion won ($14.9 million) in the center to install a green technology system, a photovoltaic power system and energy-saving elevators. The center will have LED TVs and tablets to minimize the use of paper.

“And I believe such an eco-friendly environment will leave an impression on visitors, coupled with the fact that the island is recognized for its three UNESCO titles, namely a Biosphere, a Natural World Heritage site and nine Geoparks, as well as three Ramsar sites,” Woo said.

He also said that the island has faithfully implemented the country’s green growth policy, with the introduction of electric cars since 2009.

Electric shuttle buses will run from the conference venue to accommodation areas, and 20 hybrid vehicles and 20 electric cars also will be provided.

“This is only the beginning as we are utilizing the characteristics of the island and considering building eight electricity plants that use wind and solar energy,” the governor said.

Jeju has been carrying out a five-year project since 2009 to transform the island into a global model for low-carbon, green growth.

Woo noted that the province is in the process of setting up a smart grid utilizing renewable energy, including wind and solar power.