Twenty years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hosted the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, better known as the “Earth Summit.” The concept of sustainable development was reconfirmed in Rio to be handed down to future generations after its first introduction by the Brundtland Commission in 1987. After two decades, we are back in Rio to celebrate its twentieth anniversary and build on its legacy.

A total of 122 heads of states are here in Rio with delegations from 189 countries. Their purpose is to discuss the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and further strengthen the institutional framework for sustainable development. Korea’s objectives are very much in line with those of the rest of the world.

Korea was more engaged in the preparation process for the Rio+20 summit than ever before compared to other past environmental summits. As the co-chair of the preparatory committee, Korea was involved from the very beginning ― from participating in bureau meetings to jointly chairing negotiating sessions for the outcome documents.

On Wednesday, at a plenary session that opens the Rio+20, President Lee Myung-bak announced that Korea would raise its “green overseas development aid” under the name of “Global Green Growth Partnership.” As an ODA-recipient-turned-donor, Korea expressed its strong commitment to pursue not only ODA, but also green growth to the international community. This shows its will to contribute to the sustainable development of the global society. But we had something more in mind.

In the midst of Korea’s brisk engagement in the summit, another significant event was in progress in Rio: The rebirth of the Global Green Growth Institute into an international organization.

The GGGI was established in Seoul in June 2010 as a “think and act tank” for green growth. Only two years later, it has grown to have two regional offices in Denmark and the United Arab Emirates while heightening its prestige as a leading organization in spreading tailored green growth strategies for more than 10 developing countries.

From its outset, Lee had pledged that the GGGI would be a global asset. The idea was to give life to an institution that was efficient and pragmatic yet with the legal status of an international organization. With this goal, the Korean government started negotiations with key like-minded partners on a multilateral treaty to transform the GGGI into a full-fledged international organization. But we were keen to design a new organization that was trendy and less orthodox, a hybrid form that allows not only member countries but also the private sector to take part in the core decision making process.

Here in Rio de Janeiro, we have set the foundation for a new GGGI initiative. At the presence of five heads of states from Korea, Denmark, Australia, Kiribati and Guyana, as well as the U.N. Secretary General, representatives of more than a dozen countries signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute late Wednesday on the sidelines of the Rio+20.

It is significant that the new GGGI is the first international organization established in Korea under its leadership. The idea and initiative to set up an organization solely devoted to green growth acquired the support of the founding members across five continents. More importantly, the new ground for the GGGI was set in the heart of heated discussions on “green economy” and the means to sustainable development.

The pursuit of green growth is the strategic choice for all, to address climate change while continuing economic growth. In a recent article, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, “Rio offers a generational opportunity to hit the reset button: To set a new course toward a future that balances the economic, social and environmental dimensions of prosperity and human well-being.” Korea and the other countries have just pressed that button in Rio. 

By Han Dong-man

The writer is director general of the international economic affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ― Ed.