South Korean Environment Minister heads to Bonn for Paris Agreement meeting

By Ko Dong-hwan

South Korea’s Environment Minister headed to Bonn, Germany, on Monday for an international meeting to prepare for the implementation of the Paris Agreement to tackle global warming.

Kim Eun-kyung is attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that runs from Monday until Nov. 17.

A total of 197 have signed the agreement.

The meeting is to set the implementation guidelines to be adopted next year. The agreement was originally adopted in December 2015 and is due to take effect in 2020.

The South Korean central government sent a delegation of officials headed by Kim. Her keynote speech on Nov. 16, will call for the international community's united support for the agreement to fight climate change.

She plans to highlight South Korea's national policies to fight global warming, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The minister will also discuss related international efforts and energy policy with the UNFCCC director general and other leaders.

The South Korean delegation particularly plans to encourage advanced and developing countries to make a high-profile commitment to deal with climate change.

The upcoming meeting will pay special attention to gauging international efforts in dealing with the change.

The main agenda items will include nationally determined contributions to fighting global warming, the international carbon market, and global transparency in reducing greenhouse gas.

“Moving to a low-carbon society in accordance with the Paris Agreement is an irrevocable trend,” Kim said, adding that “broad international cooperation is required to fight climate change.”