Korea, China and Japan will pledge joint efforts at an annual trilateral meeting to reduce the environmental impact of air pollution and tackle climate change issues in the Northeast Asia region.

The Ministry of Environment said Thursday that Environment Minister Yoon Seong-kyu would suggest holding regular three-way talks for tackling air pollution, and setting up a network to share information on environmental policies at the annual 15th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting attended by Korea, China and Japan.

Details will be discussed further at the ministerial meeting, held in Kitakyushu, Japan, on Sunday and Monday, according to the ministry.

On the first day of the annual meeting, Yoon is to meet with Chinese Environmental Protection Vice Minister Li Ganjie, who will participate in place of Minister Zhou Shengxian who will join the tripartite meeting later in the day.

Yoon will offer his Chinese counterpart a proposal to develop and operate an air quality monitoring system to share real-time data on pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers, respectively) and ozone.

The minister will also have a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara on the second day to discuss how to strengthen cooperation in addressing environmental challenges including air pollutants from China and global climate change.

The three officials are to give presentations on both domestic and global environmental policies of their respective countries and have related discussions.

In addition, Minister Yoon will ask for support from the two neighbors with regard to an early launch of the Green Climate Fund, a global fund to combat climate change, and success of the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Pyeongchang in 2014.

The first TEMM Environment Awards will be presented at the meeting to those who made outstanding contributions to Korea-China-Japan environmental cooperation.

Dr. Chun Youngsin of the National Institute of Meteorological Research will be awarded for her efforts to address the dust and sandstorm issue, together with the other two winners from China and Japan.

At the end of the meeting, a joint communiqu will be announced in which the three countries’ environment ministers will pledge their commitment to addressing regional and global environmental challenges.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)