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[2021] Low Emission Development to Achieve Carbon Neutrality and SDGs

Friday, 28 May 2021 - 2:00pm to 6:15pm

Friday 28 May 2021 14:00 - 18:20 (Korea Standard Time)

 

Recordings

Low Emission Development to Achieve Carbon Neutrality and SDGs : 12th IGC

 

Format, Date and Venue

The event will be held on Friday, 28 May 2021 14:00 - 18:20 in a hybrid format (online and in-person). The venue will be in Incheon, the Republic of Korea

 

Documents

CONCEPT NOTE (updated as of 24 May 2021)

OFFICIAL POSTER (updated as of 3 May 2021)

PROGRAM BOOK (updated as of 2 June 2021)

 

Background

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change are the historic cornerstones that established ambitious, universal, and transformative objectives for all countries to move towards sustainable and low-carbon development. As two frameworks are signatory to the global efforts towards environmental sustainability, understanding the multiple interlinkages between the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, and their integrated and synergistic implementation will bring significant benefits.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic impacts on government efforts to achieve sustainable development. In parallel, member states continue to experience risks from the climate crisis and the increasing intensity and frequency of climate-related disasters. The UN Secretary-General has called for a "green, inclusive and resilient economic recovery” that will be transformative and address the climate and pollution crises. To accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda in this “Decade of Action” and to achieve a green, inclusive and resilient economic recovery, stakeholders should be more attentive to growing interdependencies between sustainable development and climate actions.

In this context, the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) and Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center of Korea (GIR) are teaming up to co-host the 12th International Greenhouse Gas Conference (IGC) focusing on “Low Emission Development to Achieve Carbon Neutrality and SDGs” to share the current discourses on the synergies between Climate Action and the SDGs and disseminate the best practices from the leading countries on a national level. Key areas of discussion will be on maximization of the synergies and implementation of carbon neutrality policies and actions.

UNOSD has been implementing diverse activities to advance synergies of climate action and the SDGs, especially focusing on the integrated features of climate change and low emission development towards achieving the SDGs. These activities include the Greenhouse Gas Inventory System Training Workshop held in 2018 and 2020, the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Water-Food-Ecosystem Resilience for SDGs in the Mid-Latitude Region held in 2016 and 2018, and the Water-Energy nexus meeting in the African region in 2018 focusing on interlinkages between water and energy in the context of climate change and disaster.

GIR has taken pivotal roles in GHGs management, climate change mitigation and low emission development in ROK since 2010, systemizing statistics and information in cooperation with relevant ministries and institutes across the country and establishing networks with various domestic and international stakeholders. Launched by GIR in 2010, the International Greenhouse Gas Conference has offered a platform where domestic and international experts gather and share the recent climate change-related knowledge and issues with the public.

This event will be held as a side event to the 2021 Seoul P4G Summit. Launched in 2017, P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 – is a global initiative that provides a forum for developing concrete public-private partnerships at scale to deliver on the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. Taking this opportunity, launching of the Decade of Action in Korea and the 2nd phase (2021-2030) of UNOSD will also take place to raise awareness on SDGs and the role of UNOSD to achieve SDGs by 2030.

 

Objectives

The event is expected to provide the followings to the participants from national and sub-national governments, public institutions, non-profit organizations, academia, and businesses:

  • Improved understanding of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, and the Decade of Action;
  • Enhanced awareness on the impact of climate change on the achievement and realization of the SDGs and the overall synergies between climate and the SDGs from examples and evidence; and
  • Greater knowedge on the challenges faced by the countries and innovative solutions for greener recovery and carbon neutrality.

 

Opening Session

  • Opening Remarks - H.E. Han Jeoung Ae, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea
  • Welcoming Remarks - Mr. Namchoon Park, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea
  • Congratulatory Remarks - Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations
  • Congratulatory Remarks - Mr. Yeon-Seob Ha, Executive Vice President of International Campus, President of Yonsei University

 

Launching of the Decade of Action in Korea and Second Phase of UNOSD

  • Presentation on 2nd phase of UNOSD - Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head, United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD)
  • Ms. Sun-Jin Yun, Chair, Sustainable Development Committee, Republic of Korea
  • Mr. Hong-jang Kim, Chair, Korea Local Governments Alliance for Sustainable Development
  • Mr. Kyungho Lee, Chair, Korea Business Council for Sustainable Development
  • Ms. Yelin Heo, Chair, Youth-Level Political Forum Korea

 

Session 1

Theme: Synergies in Joint Implementation of Climate Actions and the SDGs for Recovery

Moderator: Mr. Ganbold Baasanjav, Head, Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia, UNESCAP

 

Session 2

Theme: Preparing for Carbon Neutrality by 2050

<Speaker's Session>

<Discussion Session>

Moderator: Mr. William Acworth, Head of Secretariat, International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)

  • Ms. Yeo Ra Chae, Director General, Integrated Assessment of Climate and Air Pollution, Korea Environment Institute (KEI)
  • Ms. Ji Hye Jo, Director, Resource Circulation Policy, Biomass Strategy, Waste-to-Energy, Korea Environment Institute (KEI)