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2021 is a critical year in climatic environment since it marks the beginning of the implementation of the Paris Agreement to respond to climate change.
The international community has been closely negotiating to offer solutions to various global environmental issues resulting from climate change including the rise of the sea levels, ecological collapse, and abnormal weather conditions, and finally adopted the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Resonating the promise of the Paris Agreement that all countries – environmental leaders and followers alike – should respond to climate change in unison, countries have either submitted the updated 2030 NDCs or the 2050 LEDS by the end of last year. This milestone prompted all countries to take off the grand journey towards low-carbon and eco-friendly economy that reduces greenhouse gases.
The dedication of the Korean government to join in on the international effort to respond to climate crisis was highlighted by the declaration of the Green New Deal initiative and the 2050 carbon neutrality goal last year. Adding substance to this vision, Korea is proud to announce that Seoul will host the P4G Summit scheduled from May 30 to May 31 this year. The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit will be Korea’s first multilateral summit on environment, which makes it all the more meaningful.
P4G is a global initiative launched in 2017 to accelerate the response to climate change and implementation of the SDGs, the most pressing issues of our time. 12 middle powers of all continents including Korea, international organizations, and businesses currently participate.
P4G’s uniqueness is rooted in the new form of public-private cooperation (partnership) in which not only the government but also the private sector and the civil society jointly take part in climate action. This adds a complementary role to the conventional climate regime currently focused on governments and the UN system.
The inaugural 2018 P4G Copenhagen Summit ended with a success in October 2018. With another successful hosting of the second P4G Seoul Summit, P4G will position itself as a more pivotal environmental platform.
The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis necessitates stronger solidarity and closer cooperation on climatic environment more urgently than ever before.
The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit hopes to become an important momentum to bring the international community closer together and strengthen climate action to build back better and greener in the post-COVID world.
With the international community, Korea is dedicated to fulfilling our role as a leader in climate responses to overcome the climate crisis and achieve green transition.
On January 11, 2021, President Moon Jae-in emphasized in his New Year’s remarks that “Korea will prepare together with the people, so that the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit becomes the venue that unites the international community’s resolve to achieve carbon neutrality.” Carrying out this promise, the P4G Preparatory Office will thoroughly prepare for the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit for a sustainable green future.
Yoo Yeon-chul
Executive Director2021 P4G Seoul Summit Preparatory Office
Deputy Minister & Ambassador for Climate Change Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Summit Greetings
Dear Colleagues and the P4G Family,
We are at an inflection point where the solutions we pursue today, determine if we have an inclusive and sustainable future. There is a way we can Build Back Better and Greener in this Decade of Action. We are on a Race to Zero mobilizing a transition to 100% renewable energy, zero waste and zero emissions in transport. The good news is that market-based solutions are emerging that bring together entrepreneurs, businesses and investors in developing countries to chart this path forward.
P4G systematically brings these transformative solutions with its pipeline of over 50 pioneering green partnerships and accelerates them through its action-based ecosystem of country partners, civil societies and investors. We are committed to serving as a global delivery mechanism for investing in impact where we have already leveraged US $292 million in investment into our partnerships.
The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit will be a major global moment for our engaged community of over 240 groups of doers from the private sector and civil society to come together to advance the most prospective multistakeholder partnerships and deliver impact. It’s an opportunity for countries, private sector and civil society to learn from each other and translate commitments to action in areas like how the heavy industry can pivot to a green hydrogen economy to create new and sustainable jobs from Chile to Denmark to Korea to South Africa; how cities and the automotive industry can move to zero emissions transport for a healthier and less congested planet including through replicating electric mobility solutions in the Netherlands and Latin America; and how we can scale green manufacturing hubs in countries like Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya and Vietnam that can benefit industries like food processing and textiles. It’s an opportunity for best in class partnerships to unlock synergies, accelerate learnings and drive investment for impact.
This will be a Summit that sparks action around our collective global agenda. It provides a global platform for pioneering countries and corporations to invest in scalable and replicable models of change that can drive green growth and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
We’re grateful to the Republic of Korea for hosting the Summit and the practical example of change it provides such as committing to net zero and fast tracking its plan to build the world’s biggest offshore wind farm. We thank all our country and organization partners for their continued support and leadership, and the excellent foundation set by Denmark from our inaugural Copenhagen Summit in 2018. We look forward to an impactful Summit that can be a catalytic moment for collective action as a stepping stone to COP26.
Warmest Regards,
Ian de Cruz
Global Director, P4G