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US decarbonizing efforts ongoing under Trump's presidency, oceans minister says
Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung delivers opening remarks during the 10th Our Ocean Conference at BEXCO in Busan, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
By Park Jae-hyuk
Korea declares $2.6 bil. plan for sustainable seas at global maritime conference
BUSAN — Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung rejected the widespread belief that the international community's efforts to fight climate change may backpedal under U.S. President Donald Trump.
In response to concerns over Trump's energy policies that seem to favor fossil fuels, the minister stated his belief that the U.S. government is still committed to reducing carbon emissions.
"The first thing I asked when I met with former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson was about the second Trump administration's return to fossil fuels," Kang told reporters from around the world on Tuesday.
"I was quite relieved as Kerry told me that previously implemented decarbonizing efforts are still ongoing, although the Trump administration's words and actions ostensibly look different, just like they did during his first presidency," he said.
The minister made the remarks during the 10th Our Ocean Conference, which kicked off in Busan this week under the theme "Our Ocean, Our Action."
Korea is this year's host for the annual meeting of global maritime leaders, which was inaugurated in 2014 by Kerry to discuss a broad range of sea-related topics, including marine protection, sustainable fisheries and maritime security.
This year's event attracted more than 2,300 participants, including government officials from around 100 countries and leaders of international institutions and nongovernmental organizations.
From front row second from right to left, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon applaud during the opening ceremony of the 10th Our Ocean Conference at BEXCO in Busan, Tuesday. Yonhap
"A country that does not care about the oceans cannot have a seat at the global negotiating table," Kang said. "It would be great if the next administration creates commissions that act for maritime security and overall maritime affairs."
As the host of this year's conference, Korea announced the Korea Blue Action Plan, which outlines 76 initiatives for sustainable oceans, backed by government spending of 3.7 trillion won ($2.6 billion).
Kerry expressed his gratitude to Korea for the large-scale investment.
"If we get smart, use much of what God has given us in solar, wind and other ways, and use AI to help us do it in the most effective and efficient ways, we are going to own the future, and we're going to be able to give it to our children and our grandchildren with a sense of having done the right thing," the former U.S. secretary said in his keynote address.
Thomson noted that no group or government should stop the clean energy revolution.
"We cannot, must not and will not let up on climate action," he said in his congratulatory remarks.
During the conference, various side events took place along with plenary sessions to boost global partnerships for green shipping, eco-friendly shipbuilding and digitalization of ocean-related industries.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Oceans-related Ministerial Meeting will be held in the same city ahead of the APEC summit taking place later this year in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.