Seoul, Washington meteorological heads hold climate talks

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Mon, October 2, 2023 | 17:13

Foreign Affairs

Seoul, Washington meteorological heads hold climate talks

Posted : 2023-05-22 14:19

Updated : 2023-05-23 08:59

Richard Spinrad, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), center-left, greets Yoo Hee-dong, head of the Korea Meteorological Administration, during a meeting between the two agencies at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Korea Meteorological Administration

By Ko Dong-hwan

Heads of the top meteorological authorities in Korea and the United States have met in Seoul to discuss cooperation on the climate crisis.

The meeting between Yoo Hee-dong, head of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Head Richard Spinrad took place, Thursday, at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

The talks came a day before the 11th Joint Committee Meeting on Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in Seoul. It was a ministerial-level meeting that saw 100 dignitaries from both sides, including the Korean ministries of science and ICT; foreign affairs; trade and industry and energy. The U.S. was represented by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; the Department of State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NOAA head shared with Yoo what the American agency has been doing about the climate crisis and its devastating consequences, such as rising sea levels, extreme heat and cold, food shortages, more frequent hurricanes and more.

The KMA shared how it has been explaining to the country regarding the increasing severity of typhoons, lasting heat waves causing significant draught in southern Korea and seasonal monsoons that are expected within a few months this summer.

"The Joint Committee Meeting has allowed the KMA to better understand what NOAA has been up to regarding the climate crisis as well as to cement the bilateral relationship," Yoo said. "The event reaffirmed our mission of producing reliable science-based weather reports and coming up with ways for government departments to use the information most effectively so as to realize the country's carbon neutralization policies."

In 2005 the two agencies signed an agreement for cooperation in atmospheric science and technological fields. Since then, they have been working together on climate forecasting, climate change and maritime climate conditions.

aoshima11@koreatimes.co.kr