ID :
66639
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 17:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/66639
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea eyes leadership role in global `green` race
(ATTN: ADDS fresh quotes, details)
By Kim Deok-hyun
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to take the lead in global efforts to
promote environmental initiatives and develop clean technologies, the nation's
prime minister said Friday.
Addressing the opening of the final day of the World Economic Forum on East Asia
in Seoul, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo also expressed confidence that South Korea
could reshape its export-dependent business model through a "low-carbon, green
growth" strategy.
"The low-carbon, green growth strategy must be a new paradigm for not only South
Korea, but the international community as a whole," Han said at the forum, one of
several annual regional meetings hosted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.
"By changing, modernizing and creating new business models, South Korea becomes
an early mover in reducing carbon emission," he said.
"I believe South Korea will lead the world in developing sustainable and green
growth models," Han said.
Early this year, the South Korean government unveiled an ambitious plan to spend
50 trillion won (US$39.6 billion) over the next four years on "eco-friendly"
projects to help the nation's economy get out of its prolonged slump.
The so-called "Green New Deal" aims to create 956,000 jobs by refurbishing the
nation's major rivers, developing hybrid cars and creating renewable energy.
Han said the five-year plan would make it possible for South Korea to sustain its
growth for another half century.
"In a nutshell, low-carbon green growth aims to shift the current development
paradigm from fossil-fuel dependent, quantity-oriented growth to a new paradigm
of qualitative growth which uses less energy and is more compatible with
environmental sustainability," Han said.
South Korea also said it would provide $200 million to set up the East Asia
Climate Partnership as part of its efforts to lead the region in cutting carbon
emissions.
Kim Hyung-kook, chairman of South Korea's Presidential Committee on Green Growth,
said the country would have difficulty in sustaining its growth without going
greener, citing its high oil dependency.
Resource-poor South Korea, the world's fourth-biggest importer of crude oil,
depends almost entirely on foreign energy imports.
"As for South Korea, the issue of decarbonization is how we can break away from
our dependency on oil," Kim said.
"Since the 1960s, Korea has been very successful in industrial development, which
was led by five-year industrial plans," Kim said. "We will follow the same model,
but under a completely new paradigm of low-carbon green growth."
But achieving green growth is still a daunting task, some panelists say.
"To fundamentally solve global warming, we need to not only advance technology
but also to change our mindset by adopting a new world view," said Chiaki Ito,
vice chairman of Japan's Fujitsu Ltd.
"We need to change our life and business styles and not only seek material
wealth," he stressed.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Kim Deok-hyun
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to take the lead in global efforts to
promote environmental initiatives and develop clean technologies, the nation's
prime minister said Friday.
Addressing the opening of the final day of the World Economic Forum on East Asia
in Seoul, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo also expressed confidence that South Korea
could reshape its export-dependent business model through a "low-carbon, green
growth" strategy.
"The low-carbon, green growth strategy must be a new paradigm for not only South
Korea, but the international community as a whole," Han said at the forum, one of
several annual regional meetings hosted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.
"By changing, modernizing and creating new business models, South Korea becomes
an early mover in reducing carbon emission," he said.
"I believe South Korea will lead the world in developing sustainable and green
growth models," Han said.
Early this year, the South Korean government unveiled an ambitious plan to spend
50 trillion won (US$39.6 billion) over the next four years on "eco-friendly"
projects to help the nation's economy get out of its prolonged slump.
The so-called "Green New Deal" aims to create 956,000 jobs by refurbishing the
nation's major rivers, developing hybrid cars and creating renewable energy.
Han said the five-year plan would make it possible for South Korea to sustain its
growth for another half century.
"In a nutshell, low-carbon green growth aims to shift the current development
paradigm from fossil-fuel dependent, quantity-oriented growth to a new paradigm
of qualitative growth which uses less energy and is more compatible with
environmental sustainability," Han said.
South Korea also said it would provide $200 million to set up the East Asia
Climate Partnership as part of its efforts to lead the region in cutting carbon
emissions.
Kim Hyung-kook, chairman of South Korea's Presidential Committee on Green Growth,
said the country would have difficulty in sustaining its growth without going
greener, citing its high oil dependency.
Resource-poor South Korea, the world's fourth-biggest importer of crude oil,
depends almost entirely on foreign energy imports.
"As for South Korea, the issue of decarbonization is how we can break away from
our dependency on oil," Kim said.
"Since the 1960s, Korea has been very successful in industrial development, which
was led by five-year industrial plans," Kim said. "We will follow the same model,
but under a completely new paradigm of low-carbon green growth."
But achieving green growth is still a daunting task, some panelists say.
"To fundamentally solve global warming, we need to not only advance technology
but also to change our mindset by adopting a new world view," said Chiaki Ito,
vice chairman of Japan's Fujitsu Ltd.
"We need to change our life and business styles and not only seek material
wealth," he stressed.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
