ID :
192473
Sun, 07/03/2011 - 03:41
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/192473
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Gwangju gearing up for urban environment summit
Gwangju gearing up for urban environment summit
GWANGJU, July 3 (Yonhap) -- With a global urban environment summit 100 days away, preparations are well under way to successfully host the event that will mark a milestone in environmental activism, organizers said Sunday.
The 2011 Gwangju Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords will be held in this city, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, from Oct. 11-13, drawing officials, scholars and activists from nearly 70 cities across the globe.
With requests for participation in the event continuing, It is expected to become an international event as much successful as the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit that took place in Seoul in 2009, said officials at the Gwangju municipal government.
A total of 67 cities, including Curitiba, Brazil and Auckland, New Zealand, so far have expressed interest in the event, adding to hopes that the summit will attract a record number of foreign officials.
The summit will cover two major agendas on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
One is to develop a practical and universal index to evaluate cities' eco-friendly policies. The existing standards are either too outdated or do not consider the differences among developed and developing countries.
Gwangju has entered an agreement with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on developing evaluation standards for urban environments. Participants will work together to establish a "green city" award or open a secretariat to oversee the evaluation process.
Another major agenda is to set up a framework for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as part of global efforts reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The gist of the accord is to prompt cities to cut greenhouse gas by initiating an emission trading scheme. A joint study with the UNEP is under way.
"The importance of the summit lies in preventing global warming by preparing ways cities can contribute," said a city official, adding participants will adopt the "Gwangju Declaration" for that purpose.
Organizers, meanwhile, said they have finalized the panel of keynote speakers, which include the heads of the two largest environmental institutions -- Achim Steiner, executive director of the UNEP, and Joan Clos, executive director of UN-HABITAT, an UN agency that covers human settlement issues and pursues providing adequate shelter.
A handful of well-known officials and activists are also slated to discuss environmental issues at symposiums and forums that will take place on the sidelines of the summit. Speakers include Earth Policy Institute President Lester Brown and Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva.
In a bid to promote Gwangju's charm, the city government said it plans to hold traditional performances and serve local cuisines during the environment summit, and set up the venue with organic materials as part of efforts to promote eco-friendliness.
(END)
GWANGJU, July 3 (Yonhap) -- With a global urban environment summit 100 days away, preparations are well under way to successfully host the event that will mark a milestone in environmental activism, organizers said Sunday.
The 2011 Gwangju Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords will be held in this city, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, from Oct. 11-13, drawing officials, scholars and activists from nearly 70 cities across the globe.
With requests for participation in the event continuing, It is expected to become an international event as much successful as the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit that took place in Seoul in 2009, said officials at the Gwangju municipal government.
A total of 67 cities, including Curitiba, Brazil and Auckland, New Zealand, so far have expressed interest in the event, adding to hopes that the summit will attract a record number of foreign officials.
The summit will cover two major agendas on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
One is to develop a practical and universal index to evaluate cities' eco-friendly policies. The existing standards are either too outdated or do not consider the differences among developed and developing countries.
Gwangju has entered an agreement with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on developing evaluation standards for urban environments. Participants will work together to establish a "green city" award or open a secretariat to oversee the evaluation process.
Another major agenda is to set up a framework for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as part of global efforts reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The gist of the accord is to prompt cities to cut greenhouse gas by initiating an emission trading scheme. A joint study with the UNEP is under way.
"The importance of the summit lies in preventing global warming by preparing ways cities can contribute," said a city official, adding participants will adopt the "Gwangju Declaration" for that purpose.
Organizers, meanwhile, said they have finalized the panel of keynote speakers, which include the heads of the two largest environmental institutions -- Achim Steiner, executive director of the UNEP, and Joan Clos, executive director of UN-HABITAT, an UN agency that covers human settlement issues and pursues providing adequate shelter.
A handful of well-known officials and activists are also slated to discuss environmental issues at symposiums and forums that will take place on the sidelines of the summit. Speakers include Earth Policy Institute President Lester Brown and Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva.
In a bid to promote Gwangju's charm, the city government said it plans to hold traditional performances and serve local cuisines during the environment summit, and set up the venue with organic materials as part of efforts to promote eco-friendliness.
(END)
