Global leaders participating in the P4G Seoul Summit agreed Monday that climate change was an urgent global threat that went beyond environmental issues, having an impact on economies, societies, security and human rights.
They added that the fight against COVID-19 should progress with a “green recovery” that would provide important lessons for a global response to the climate crisis. This was included in the Seoul Declaration, published at the end of the two-day summit that closed Monday with a leaders’ dialogue.
The leaders of the P4G member countries, representatives from more than 40 other nations and international organizations participated in the summit.
P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, and has the 12 member nations of Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Vietnam and Korea.
In the declaration, participants in the summit reaffirmed that the “pandemic should be overcome through green recovery as a progressive strategy,” in recognition that the extent to which the green recovery is implemented will be “a turning point in the journey to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Green recovery refers to global policies and investment plans for a post-pandemic economic recovery, and the leaders agreed these should be implemented in a way that can tackle climate change.
 |
| President Moon Jae-in speaks during a leader’s dialogue at the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap |
While upholding commitments announced at previous climate-related summits, the declaration stated that the leaders would make efforts to “limit the temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris Agreement.”
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty which aims to limit global warming to below around 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. For this purpose, countries have submitted national targets for emissions cuts, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and will make efforts to meet these targets from this year.
Korea has submitted its NDC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but has been promising to strengthen its target further, to increase its contribution to the global fight against climate change. During the opening ceremony of the P4G Seoul Summit, President Moon Jae-in pledged that Korea will unveil a strengthened NDC at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), slated for November.
Also in the declaration, the signatories agreed to “strengthen international cooperation to promote energy transition by increasing the share of renewables” and “encourage (members) to look for approaches to phase out existing coal and stop public financing for overseas construction of coal-fired power plants.”
The declaration continued with an agreement on the severity of marine pollution and the need for global solidarity to address the issue of dumping plastics in the world’s oceans.
“We take note that the oceans serve as natural carbon sinks and will make efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the oceans through decarbonization of maritime transport and the prevention of additional marine pollution,” the declaration reads.
The government stressed that the declaration was joined by not only countries leading climate actions but also developing nations, thus making a contribution to uniting various countries’ commitments for climate action.
“On the occasion of the P4G Seoul Summit, Korea announced a plan to provide P4G with a new $4 million grant, contributing to P4G’s sustainable operation and improved credibility,” a government official said.
 |
| U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks from the screen with President Moon Jae-in presiding over a leaders’ dialogue at the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap |
During the leaders’ dialogue, before adopting the Seoul Declaration, President Moon called for stronger global cooperation in technology and resources for a green recovery.
“There is no border in climate issues, and it is important to make a coalition between advanced and developing nations while understanding their different economic and civic conditions,” Moon said. “For developing countries, which have to rely on fossil fuels, carbon neutrality is a difficult goal to achieve. Advanced nations should increase their support and share the burdens of developing countries.”
During the videoconference dialogue, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry stressed the urgent necessity for global society’s actions, saying it was an opportunity for the world to take a major leap forward.
“We have to act now with the technologies we have now because we can’t just bet on a future miracle. No breakthrough will be enough if we miss the opportunity now,” he said.
He criticized that many promises being made for net zero in 2050 were not accompanied by plans for 2020 to 2030, adding national governments needed to step up their ambitions for 2030 emissions targets.
“(The period between) 2020 to 2030 is the decisive decade. If we fail to make sufficient progress by 2030, it will become scientifically ― physically, barring a miracle ― impossible to be able to make the reductions to get us to net zero by 2050. On the other hand, if we join together and grab the opportunity right now, we will create millions of jobs and improve the health and welfare of our citizens; we’ll provide greater security for nations.”
Along with Moon and Kerry, the dialogue was participated in by Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez, eight other heads of state and senior officials of P4G member countries, as well as International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Colombia will host the next P4G summit.
 |
| Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez speaks during a leaders’ dialogue at the P4G Seoul Summit, which was streamed online Monday. Captured from P4G Seoul Summit live streaming |
