Govt. Serves as ‘a Green Bridge’

CEO Ahn Byung-ok of Korea Environment Corp. (K-eco). (Photos: K-eco)

The Ministry of Environment and Korea Environment Corp. (K-eco) held THE “18th Seoul Initiative Policy Debate” to comply with climate change responses in the Asia-Pacific region.

The event took place at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador in Mapo-gu, Seoul, from Oct. 25 to Oct. 27.

The Seoul Initiative was adopted during the 5th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED-5), jointly hosted by the MOE, K-eco and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in 2005.

The project is designed to share policy practices corresponding to the Asia-Pacific region based on Korea’s sustainable development.

The Seoul Initiative Policy Debate takes place every year to explore sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific by ranking officials from countries in the region.

Vice Minister Lim Sang-joon of the Ministry of Environment delivers a speech at a ceremony to open the “18th Seoul Initiative Policy Debate” at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 25. (Photo: MOE)

The 18th Seoul Initiative Policy Debate was held under the theme of the acceleration of cooperation to cope with climate change in the Asia-Pacific region.

MOE Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun delivered a keynote speech to stress Korea’s role as a “green bridge” to comply with climate change responses in the region.

The 18th Seoul Initiative Policy Debate was held under themes, such as “New Projects and Policy Examples for Behavior Strategies and Carbon Neutrality to Cope with State Climate Change in the Asia and Pacific Region”; “Resilience Improvement and Adaptation”; and “Fiscal Programs for Actions to Cope with Climate Change and Green Growth.”

On the last day of the event, Oct. 27, participants were given the chance to tour the Sudokwon Landfill Site Corp. and Mapo Resource Recovery Facility under the theme “Resource Circulation.”

MOE Vice Minister Lim said, “Accompanying with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, hit the severest by climate change, is a key to solving environment issues.”

Choi Cheol-sik, head of the Environment Facility Division at K-eco, and On Sang-ung, a division chief with POSCO E&C, pose after they signed an MOU to implement a project to expand an incinerator in Krakow, Poland, at K-eco headquarters in Incheon on Sept. 11.

K-eco Teams Up with POSCO E&C to Implement Project in Krakow, Poland

Korea Environment Corp., a public entity under the umbrella of MOE, struck an MOU with POSCO E&C, a plant engineering contractor, to implement a project to expand an incinerator in Krakow, Poland, at K-eco headquarters in Incheon on Sept. 11.

Under the agreement, both sides agreed to share matters on the landing of the project and its implementation as well as related information, offer administrative and technology support for the implementation of the project and develop energy self-sufficiency renewable energy utilization models, and implement overseas joint projects in the related sectors.

Under the deal, both sides are expected to achieve the government’s green technology export goals by jointly implementing the Polish incinerator expansion project, calling for an annual capacity of 100,000 tons at a cost of 200 billion won.

Choi Cheol-sik, head of the Environment Facility Division at K-eco, said, “The signatory institutions will be able to serve as roles to lay groundwork for exporting homegrown green technologies and overseas market entry through reinforced collaboration.”