G20 Environment Ministers Agree on Green Recovery Policies to Overcome COVID-19

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Environment ministers from the Group of Twenty (G20) have agreed to promote environmentally sustainable and inclusive recovery policies to overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

On the 16th at 8 p.m. (Korean time), Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae attended the G20 Environment Ministers' Meeting as South Korea's chief representative via video conference.

This meeting was the first standalone meeting solely for the environment sector since the inaugural G20 Energy and Environment Ministers' Meeting held last year. Discussions focused on issues of interest to the chair country, Saudi Arabia, including soil degradation and habitat loss, coral reef conservation, and marine waste reduction.

At the meeting, the G20 environment ministers adopted a declaration confirming their joint commitment to ▲promoting environmentally sustainable and inclusive recovery policies to overcome COVID-19 ▲addressing climate change ▲preventing soil degradation and conserving coral reefs.

Additionally, they adopted annex documents related to new initiatives proposed by the chair country, namely the 'Prevention of Soil Degradation and Habitat Loss' and the 'Platform to Promote Research and Development for Coral Reef Conservation,' laying the foundation for enhanced cooperation in the conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the consultation process on the ministerial declaration, South Korea emphasized the necessity of a green recovery to overcome COVID-19 and the climate crisis, fostering consensus on environmentally sustainable recovery. The importance of mutual trust and peace enhancement through ecological conservation and restoration cooperation among neighboring countries was also highlighted and reflected in the ministerial declaration.

Minister Cho, in his remarks, explained South Korea's ecosystem conservation policies and the Green New Deal aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral society, expressing his commitment to actively contribute to international cooperation for green recovery.

Minister Cho introduced policies such as the establishment of protected areas to restore ecosystems damaged by industrialization and urbanization, restoration of endangered species, ecological restoration of urban, forest, and marine environments, resource circulation, and reduction of marine plastic waste.

He also mentioned South Korea's contributions to the international community, including the Peace Forest Initiative launched under South Korea's leadership at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties, plans to host the 4th United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Asia-Pacific Environment Ministers' Meeting, and the 7th UNEP International Marine Debris Conference.

Furthermore, he emphasized that a sustainable post-COVID era can be opened through energy transition and the Green New Deal, declaring South Korea's commitment to achieving green recovery for all.

Meanwhile, the key contents of the environment ministers' declaration adopted at this meeting are expected to be reflected in the G20 Leaders' Declaration at the summit scheduled for November.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.