[Green Growth:Korea`s New Strategy (28)]European, Asian cities share climate goals

Germany`s 19th largest city, Bonn is well-known as the former capital of West Germany. The city is also known as the birthplace of composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

But Bonn has also made its mark in environmental issues. It is the host city for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, among 19 U.N. institutions headquartered there.

In an email interview with The Korea Herald, the mayor of Bonn, Barbel Dieckmann discussed the city`s "green growth" policies and her hopes for an improved agreement "post Kyoto." She also explained how cities like Seoul could cooperate with the German city in climate change initiatives.

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KH: Bonn is currently hosting U.N. climate talks involving 175 nations. Could you give us your assessment of the event?

Barbel Dieckmann: It`s hard to give an assessment, because this time it`s about procedures, rather than results; however, it is especially these procedures that are essential if, after the Kyoto Protocol, we intend to adopt a consensus agreement that can quickly be put into action. It should not again take three years until enough nations sign the new climate agreement.



KH: The U.S. now seems to be playing a more assertive role in climate issues. What is your view on the Obama administration`s green policies?

BD: That`s good news for the world climate coming from the U.S. and I am happy that President Obama is showing that he is actively committed, and he does have experienced advisors by his side. But there are also positive surprises elsewhere -- especially Australia, who have been very committed in working to find multilateral solutions since joining the Kyoto Protocol last year.



KH: The goal is to secure a comprehensive deal by the time leaders meet in December 2009 in Copenhagen. Are we getting closer to an agreement that will help to solve the climate change crisis? Is a better agreement than the Kyoto Protocol possible?

BD: The Kyoto Protocol in 1997 was a very ambitious and well-conceived agreement with effective instruments. Unfortunately, it took over three years for it to finally come into effect and in the meantime climate change was working at a far greater speed - but we know now that the aims and instruments of Kyoto are not enough to successfully stand in the way of global climate change. In my opinion, a good post-Kyoto agreement should focus on what we know today and be put into action quickly, because if there`s one thing that we don`t have, it`s time ...



KH: Green growth was also a topic at the G20 summit in London. Could you give us your assessment of those talks and what they have achieved in terms of climate change issues?

BD: Although there are challenging times ahead, and for some in the world, very hard times ahead, the crisis also presents an opportunity, even if this may sound like a platitude. The opportunity seems to have also been registered by those in charge. However, when it comes to solving the current problems in the world, we shouldn`t get bogged down in a "business as usual" approach and only consolidate existing structures, but must also think ahead of the coming months and years. That means we should opt for sustainable investments when deciding how to resolve the global financial problems, after all, climate protection also makes a lot of sense from an economic perspective.



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KH: Bonn is known as a city that has dealt with environmental and climate change issues effectively. Could you tell us about some of the programs and policies that are in place?

BD: Environmental and climate protection has been an issue in Bonn since the 1990s. The achieved successes were recently acknowledged by the presentation of the European Energy Award in Gold. Some examples of our successes include that we already supplied cost-efficient "green energy" into our power grids 15 years ago; we encourage our citizens to be energy-efficient and to use renewable energy, to use geothermal and solar energy technology, and to use bicycles and local public transport. We have installed photovoltaic systems at schools, we use green electricity in our city buildings, we use wood chips to heat some of our schools, in other words, we use all the options that exist.



KH: What do you feel about Seoul`s green policies? Is there a blueprint for combating climate change that could be used by both European and Asian cities?

BD: I visited Seoul last year; the Mayor had invited me to a very interesting eGovernment Conference. I was especially impressed to see the Cheonggyecheon again flowing through the middle of the city thanks to the exemplary renaturation project to restore the stream. Seoul is also a role model with regard to its regulation of traffic and when it comes to climate protection and energy issues, South Korea`s major commitment is unmistakable. In January, South Korea was one of the 75 nations that founded IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, in Bonn. There is a lot that the cities of the world can learn from one another and it is therefore correct that they regularly meet to exchange ideas. However, it is especially networks, like the ones being set up in Seoul, which are important, because they establish the cities as indispensable partners in global climate protection.

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You asked whether European and Asian cities can work according to the same plan when it comes to combating climate protection and environmental issues. Well, they are already doing do so in many areas. Take for example the cost-efficient feed-in tariffs for renewable energy. Bonn was one of the pilot cities before the issue was regulated by a decree in Germany. In the meantime, many countries have this decree as the role model for their own legislation. Today, Asian and European cities work together in many fields under the umbrella of the ICLEI Local Government for Sustainability - just take Local Action for Biodiversity, a project in which Seoul and Bonn both form part of the pilot group.

When we speak of cities, there are so many differences in terms of size, economic and social structure, and geographic location; however the tasks at hand are the same and many of the problems are also similar, no matter whether one is asking the Mayor of Seoul or the Mayor of Bonn. It`s about safeguarding the future for our citizens, about preserving ecosystems and about the services that we must provide the communities. It`s about the people and their well-being. And it`s about getting people involved and convincing them to do something themselves.



KH: You will be attending the "Large Cities Climate Leadership Group" or C40 summit hosted by Seoul in May. What are your thoughts on the summit and what do you hope will be accomplished there?

BD: I was very pleased to accept the invitation to the C40 summit in Seoul. As you are aware, the C40, together with the ICLEI, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Metropolis network and the World mayors Council on Climate Change, whose chairperson I am, drew up the "Local Governments Climate Roadmap" at the end of 2007 in Bali. At the time I spoke with Mayor Bloomberg in the high level segment of the COP 13. In Poznan, it was not only the United Nations` Bali Roadmap that was further developed, but also the local level of the roadmap. Cities all over the world are pursuing a common goal: they want to SUCCESSFULLY stand in the way of climate change together with national governments and international organizations. The C40 summit is a very important step on the way there. The cities and megacities are only the tip of the iceberg - this is where the causes and potential solutions are concentrated and visible. If the really big cities move forward in climate protection, then they set an example that many will follow; but the smaller cities also have their opportunities to act. The cities are aware that exchanging knowledge and cooperation will lead to greater success when it comes to achieving their goals. I hope that the summit in Seoul sets a strong example, not only for the world at large, but also for the national governments. After all, we are talking about a summit of the world`s largest cities!



KH: Any final comments for our readers who want to learn more about Bonn?

BD: With its 316,000 inhabitants, Bonn is not only one of the great cities of the world, but has also shown that it can make a contribution towards global issues through its actions. Bonn is home to 19 United Nations organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Their common motto is "U.N. in Bonn -- for global sustainability" and the city considers this motto an obligation to make a commitment to climate protection, the fight against desertification and disaster early warning systems, and to do so here in our city and in the cities of our project partners around the world.

By Henry Shinn



(henryshinn@heraldm.com)