Asian countries agree to formulate roadmap for 'Green Growth'

By Park Sang-soo
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Asian countries, including South Korea and China,
agreed on Friday to explore ways to achieve so-called "green growth" as part of
efforts to reduce climate change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

"It is imperative that countries in East Asia urgently move toward a new
development paradigm of 'Low Carbon Green Growth' which will present new
opportunities to achieve economic growth and address climate change," they said
in a statement after holding an international gathering dubbed "East Asia Climate
Forum" in Seoul earlier in the day.
The forum, the first of its kind, is part of a so-called "East Asia Climate
Partnership," proposed by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during an expanded
G-8 summit in Japan last year.
As part of the campaign, the South Korean leader promised to donate US$200
million over the next five years to help the region's developing countries both
attain economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.
"We will work together to map out East Asia's path to Low Carbon Green Growth and
collaborate to develop the details of the modalities of operating the Partnership
through diplomatic channels," the statement said.
Officials from South Korea, China, Japan and 10 member states of ASEAN, as well
as international agencies also adopted the "Seoul Initiative for Low Carbon Green
Growth in East Asia," under which the nations agree to support sustainable water
and forest management and urban planning, as well as explore new policies and
measures that could encourage clean and renewable energy infrastructure.
Haruhiko Kuroda, president of the Asian Development Bank, said in a keynote
speech that through committed and coordinated action, Asia and the Pacific region
can adopt a more sustainable development pathway and overcome the additional
burden on poverty reduction efforts caused by the climate crisis.
The Initiative envisions a new low-carbon green growth paradigm not only for
Korea but other countries in Asia to attain economic growth while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, he added.
sam@yna.co.kr
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