South Korea officially launched an international organization Thursday to
promote strategies for environment-friendly economic growth drivers.
The agreement to establish the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) took effect
that day, upgrading the Seoul-based think tank set up in 2010 to an
international entity, according to its Secretariat.
On Sept. 18, the
Pacific island nation of Kiribati became the third country to approve its
conversion, following the ratification by Denmark and Guyana, the Secretariat
said. International law stipulates that at least three countries must ratify a
treaty for such a transformation, and the agreement takes effect 30 days after
the third ratification.
So far, four countries, including the
Philippines, have ratified the treaty, with 18 countries signing it, the
Secretariat added.
With aims to spread green growth models as alternative
development strategies and to support emerging countries' eco-friendly growth,
the GGGI plans to devise "tailor-made" plans for each country and region, its
Secretariat said, adding it is now working on 24 such projects in 17 countries,
including Indonesia, Cambodia and Brazil.
"Green growth is the agenda
that responds to both continuous development and climate change, the key issues
drawing high interest from developing countries," said Shin Boo-nam, Seoul's
Green Growth Ambassador. "The GGGI is also expected to contribute to solidifying
South Korea's status as a leader in this future-oriented issue."
The
inaugural meetings of the Assembly and the Council will be held next week, with
some 300 officials from 18 member countries in attendance, the Secretariat
said.
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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) delivers a
congratulatory speech during a ceremony to sign a pact to upgrade the
Seoul-established Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) into an official
international organization on the sidelines of a Rio+20 U.N. conference on
sustainable development in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on June 20, 2012. (Yonhap
file photo) |