Full text of S. Korean president's address of U.N. climate summit

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of an address by
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen,
Friday.

It is an honor to represent the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG), comprised of
Lichtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Switzerland and Korea.
The EIG has both Annex 1 and non-Annex 1 countries and this has allowed us to act
as a "positive bridge." Rather than speaking on our positions, we tried to come
up with converging solutions. For this reason, the EIG has made many workable
solutions that touch upon the core issues.
The "Green Fund" proposed by Mexico, the "International tax system" by
Switzerland, and the "Registry" mechanism proposed by Korea, all played an
important role in bringing together developed and developing countries. These
proposals are also realistic and can help us solve our problems.
For example, the Swiss proposal will help us lessen our dependence on fossil
fuels. The Mexican proposal will provide an international fund that will finance
our mitigation and adaptation efforts. The international "registry" system that
Korea proposed will motivate developing countries to take reduction steps that
are transparent and internationally recognized.
However, one of the most important principles that the EIG believes in is the
importance of having a "Me First" attitude. This is why the members of the EIG
set an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that meets the highest
standard recommended by the international community.
Excellencies and world citizens, the EIG also believes that this is an
opportunity to adopt a new development paradigm that will dramatically change our
future for the better. We believe that "Green Growth" is the new economic path
that will benefit all of us.
We believe it is possible to have sustainable development while promoting a
greener future. We believe we can grow while protecting the environment.
In the case of Korea, we have set up the "Low Carbon Green Growth" as a new
national vision which will help us achieve these goals. Other members of the EIG
have similar visions. And it is our hope to share our knowledge with others so
that we can all have a greener, more sustainable future.
This is why Korea will establish the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). This
institute will assist countries in formulating their own Green Growth Plans. In
the spirit of global partnership, this institute will act as a global think tank
leading us to a low carbon society. This is not just a Korean venture. This
institute will bring together the best minds from around the world.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, in a few hours, the Copenhagen meeting will
come to a closing. But, Excellencies, this is not an end but a new beginning.
Although we may not agree on everything today, this must not be an excuse for
No-Action. We will continue to do our very best because there is no alternative
to our planet. This is all we have.
Thank you.
(END)