Advanced Countries Urged to Spend More Money for Underdeveloped Nations

-117 heads of state gather at the 1992 Rio Summit

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on Human Environment, the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also called the Rio Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 to reaffirm the importance of environmental preservation in our well being and to explore ways to realize sustainable development in the 21st century. 117 heads of state attended the Conference. As a follow-up to the Conference, the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.

The International Herald Tribune, however, reported in its Aug. 8 issue that the global environment has deteriorated despite numerous international conferences and resolutions, which have been adopted at those conferences for the past 10 years. The newspaper pointed out the destruction of global ecosystem, and the limitations of international efforts, and problems with regard to environmental preservation.

During the 1992 Rio Summit, the heads of state from around the world discussed matters on prevention of environmental destruction such as water and air pollution, preservation of a diversity of the ecosystem, implementation of sustainable economic development, improvement of the quality of women's living and resolution of poverty. A number of agreements and others were made to implement them. The global emission of carbon dioxide, which exacerbates the greenhouse effect, has increased 10 percent during the past 10 years. In the United States, the world's largest consumer of fossil fuel, the emission of carbon dioxide has risen 18 percent. Threats caused by the exhaustion of fish, water, fresh air and other life sustaining necessities have increased further in the past decade. Consumption of energy and resources by consuming countries, which account for 20 percent of total global population, has accelerated. During the Rio Summit, advanced countries pledged to contribute 0.7 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to aid underdeveloped nations. But it appears that that has ended practically as an empty pledge.

Only some Scandinavian nations and the Netherlands have kept to their promises. Contributions to international funds by advanced countries decreased from an average 0.35 percent of their GDP in early 1990s to 0.22 percent of their GDP in 2000. In the 1990s, economies of advanced countries have expanded by more than $10 trillion. But the per capita income of 80 underdeveloped nations has decreased for the past decade. Approximately 1.2 billion people now make their living with only less than one dollar per day.

A senior official at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) summarized the reasons for the deterioration of global environment as follow:

First, advanced countries have set aside $56 billion until 2010 to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. But they have allocated $57 billion, one billion dollars more than the money, for the same period to develop fossil fuel. Second, Tropical forest which is four times as large as the size of Switzerland disappears every year. But countries around the world provide financial aids of $35 billion to forest business, which plays a leading role in destroying forest, every year. Third, advanced countries offer financial aids of $53.7 billion to underdeveloped nations every year. But they spend as much as $335 billion to assist their respective agricultural industry.

A top official in charge of Europe at the World Bank said that currently, the number of international pacts concluded to protect the environment totals about 240. Even though those pacts are ratified, there are few international bodies to supervise the implementation of the pacts, he said.

Green World Cup raises global image of Korea

Minister of Environment, Dr. Kim Myung Ja, is scheduled to attend the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4. The much-anticipated follow up to the 1992 summit in Rio, Brazil, she will be part of an international coalition representing their respective governments, the private sector, NGOs, among others.

Officials, representatives, and experts from U.N. and other international organizations together with NGOs are to hold working-level discussions on Aug. 29-30 before a meeting of heads of state in four round-table sessions.

A 'Korea Day' will be held on Aug. 28 at the Johannesburg Expo Center. A country-specific symposium, a 'vocal' performance, and a demonstration of traditional Korean cooking is expected to offer visitors coming from around the world something for everyone to take home. Coinciding with the Korea Day events is a Northeast Asian Women's Workshop, also at the Expo Center. A keynote speech will be followed by a discussion of panelists from China, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan and Korea.

At the Ubuntu Village, a Korea Ministry of Environment booth will be opened from Aug. 17 through Sept. 8, where it will provide up to date information on Korea's policy on sustainable development and its successes, especially during the Green World Cup last June.

Minister Kim spoke with NewsWorld recently about the upcoming summit. Roughly 60,000 participants from the governments of 189 UN member nations, international organizations, and NGOs are expected to converge in Johannesburg for the 10-day event. The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: Can you explain the background of the 2002 WSSD in Johannesburg?

A: The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), founded in 1983 by the UN General Assembly, released a report entitled 'Our Common Future' in 1987. The concept of 'sustainable development' was introduced for the first time, which became the ultimate policy goal of the international community. In 1992, the UN Conference of Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Brazil to reaffirm the importance of environmental preservation our well-being and to explore ways to realize sustainable development in the 21st century. The conference was attended by representatives from 178 countries and international organizations, including 117 heads of state.

After intensive discussions, the participants adopted the Rio Declaration, calling for worldwide environmental sustainability efforts and positing a concrete action plan called 'Agenda 21'. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly decided to convene the WSSD in Johannesburg in 2002.

The Fourth Summit Preparatory Committee for WSSD was held from May 27 through June 7 in Bali, Indonesia. I attended the High Level Segment on June 5-7. The delegates discussed matters on drafting a declaration and an action agenda for WSSD, and on Partnership Initiative for sustainable development. They agreed on the importance of combating poverty, preserving the environment and others. But they failed to narrow their difference on action strategies such as establishing fund. In the Johannesburg declaration, the delegations are expected to stress the sustained implementation of multilateral cooperation for sustainable development and the outcome of the Rio Summit.

Q: The eighth International Congress of Ecology was being held in Seoul. Can you introduce our readers to the Seoul congress?

A: During the previous congress in Florence, Italy, in 1998, the International Association for Ecology (INTECOL) decided to hold the next congress in Seoul. The Seoul congress was held on Aug. 11-18 under the theme of 'Ecology in a Changing World'. Some 2,300 ecologists from 75 countries participated in the Seoul congress.

Fourteen committees of INTECOL held a total of 60 symposiums and two workshops. About 200 lectures and papers were presented.

Agenda items include environmental pollution, diversity of biology, climate change, preservation of forest swamp, and ecosystem in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides South and North Korea.

INTECOL, affiliated with the International Union of Biological Sciences, consists of about 5,000 scholars in 75 countries around the world.

Q: As you know, the FIFA World Cup has been successful. Under the slogan of the Green World Cup, the Ministry of Environment made many efforts to make the World Cup a success. Would you tell us about the achievement your ministry made during the Korea World Cup and future plans?

A: The Korea World Cup has improved the nation's image thanks to the enhancement of people's awareness of cleanliness and order, which resulted from the implementation of environment-related measures in cooperation with the private sector for the past two years and the citizen' voluntary participation.

First, the operation of the Green (or environmentally friendly) World Cup created the culture of environmentally friendly cheering rallies such as a reduction of waste collected from the stadiums by 42 percent, nonsmoking areas at stadiums and the successful introduction of Clean-up Time.

Citizens voluntarily participated in a campaign to pick up and dispose of every scrap of paper and garbage after each game, and in a two-shift (odd-even) driving system for vehicles to resolve traffic problems. It brought in the improvement of the 'clean Korea' image. CNN, BBC and other foreign media organizations reported our massive but orderly cheering rallies and outstanding etiquette to clean up the streets.

We systemized the voluntary activities of 4,900 Clean-up Leaders, the national soccer team supporters of ?ed Devils?and members of citizens' organizations. In addition, MOE presented a one-minute video, titled 'Dynamic Korea, Clean Korea', at stadiums and street cheering sites to encourage the crowds to clean up the gathering places after each game.

In accordance with the World Cup Environmental Operation Guideline formulated in August 2001, the use of disposable goods such as vinyl balloons was limited and smoking at stadiums was restricted.

Second, as a result of the implementation of measures to improve air quality in host cities of the FIFA World Cup, particulate matters and ozone in Seoul reduced 20.4 percent in June this year from the year-earlier period (from 95 to 78 micro gram/m3/day), and 11.5 percent (from 26 to 23 ppb), respectively. Those measures included:

- As of June this year, a total of 2,026 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses were registered.

- Oil refining companies cooperated in supplying ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in May and June this year.

- We implemented a two-shift (odd-even) driving system for vehicles, and conducted five rounds of a free check-up of gas emitted by vehicles between February and May this year and a special crackdown on sources of air pollution in cooperation with other authorities between December last year and June this year.

Third, as part of plans to maintain a clean and pleasant urban environment, environmentally friendly space including an ecological park was expanded, the streets were refurbished. and nature-friendly space widened. We introduced the 'Clean Maintenance Responsibility' scheme under which the owners of land and buildings take responsibilities to clean up wastes in their properties. We will publish the 'White Paper on Green World Cup' that will serve as an environmental guidebook for various sports events. We will make every effort to build an advanced environmentally friendly community in the 21st century by galvanizing the nation? enormous, potential energy as manifested during the Korea World Cup.

Yellow dust

Q: Environment ministers of China, Japan and Korea met last April and discussed ways of cooperating in resolving the yellow dust problem. The sandstorms that periodically blow in from desert areas in northern China are a natural phenomenon. It is very difficult to resolve the problem. Do you have any ideas to resolve it?

A: First of all, the reason why more sandstorms blew in from desert areas in northern China this year is that the transformation of forest into desert areas in northern China has accelerated because of excessive forest clearing and pasturage. Moreover, severe drought has hit the area in recent years. But basically, the yellow dust problem results from the rapid development and global climate change. For these reasons, domestically, efforts should be exerted to minimize the damage caused by the yellow dust. At the same time, nations concerned are required to make joint efforts to resolve this problem. In accordance with the agreement that was made during the Korea-China summit meeting in October 2000, Korea will make a contribution of five million U.S. dollars for five years from 2001 for forestation of desert areas to prevent the yellow dust. In addition, Korea will begin work for forestation of desert areas in 2002. Last April, environment ministers of the three countries agreed to form a joint yellow-dust monitoring network to share information on the yellow dust in real time. The three countries held a meeting in July this year and discussed how to exchange information on the yellow dust and ways of expanding measuring facilities for monitoring dust storms in China on route to Korea. They called on international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), to extend funds such as those from the Global Environment Facility (GER) to their yellow dust prevention projects. In addition, environment ministers of Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea, and the UNEP secretary-general met in Indonesia on June 8 this year, and discussed matters on GEF projects. During the environment ministers' meeting in April in Seoul, China, Japan and Korea also agreed that government officials and experts of the three countries would hold an annual international workshop to discuss the environmental hazard. Experts of the three countries will meet in Beijing this fall. The second workshop is scheduled to be held in Seoul early next year. Despite the tripartite cooperation, it is difficult to resolve the yellow dust problem in a short period of time. All of us should continue to make efforts to resolve it on a long-term basis.

Q: Your ministry is placing emphasis on the 'Blue Sky 21' program in an effort to improve air quality of Seoul and its vicinities to meet the average of advanced nations. Can you introduce our readers to the Blue Sky 21 program?

A: Sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide in Seoul and its vicinities have reached the average of advanced nations. But nitrogen dioxide and particulate matters are twice to four times as much as those of New York, Paris and London. Currently, experts estimate social costs caused by air pollution including particulate matters at 30 to 60 trillion won. The ministry will draft special measures to improve air quality in Seoul and the surrounding areas to meet OECD average within this year, and will push to draft a special law. The contemplated measures are featured by the introduction of the Total Emission Load Permit System in each locality and the integration of air environment management now being carried out by each local government.

A task force consisting of officials of the Ministry of Environment and local administrations and experts was inaugurated last April. Work to map out the framework of those measures is now underway. The measures will include programs to reduce pollutants emitted from automobiles and factory facilities. As soon as the measures are drafted, we will hold a public hearing on them. Local government officials, residents and members of environmental organizations will be invited to speak at the public hearing.

The measures are expected to trigger outcries from industries concerned and residents. But providing these measures is a national task which cannot be delayed any longer in consideration of the urgent need for improving air quality in Seoul and its vicinities. We wish that people will extend interest and cooperation for them.

Q: Special Acts on Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan Rivers' Watershed Management has been implemented since July 15 to improve water quality of the rivers. What follow-up measures have been taken so far?

A: In accordance with the regulations on the rivers' watershed management committees, the committees were launched in April this year. An enforcement decree and enforcement regulations were formulated. Upper stream regions will be designated as buffer zones, where anthropogenic pollution will be strictly prohibited, during the second half of this year. The level of water quality and basic policy will be finalized within this year as part of the Total Pollution Load Management.

As the implementation of the Special Acts began, water quality of the water sources is expected to be improved to the level of first- or second-grade by 2005. BOD level in the Daecheong Lake in upper stream of Geum River is forecast to decrease from 3.2mg per liter in 1998 to 2.0mg in 2005.

Environmental technology

Q: I know that the government plans to foster environmental technology (ET) along with IT (information technology), BT (bio technology) and NT (nano technology) as the nation's strategic industries. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Environment announced a plan to support next-generation core environmental technology development projects in eight categories. Can you tell us about details of the plan?

A: The government has set aside one trillion won until 2010 to carry out those 2001-2010 projects in order to ease the worsening environmental pollution (thereby improving the quality of people's living) and develop the environmental industry to a strategic export industry. Of the money, 50 billion won was used in 2001 to help resolve regional environmental issues, improve the environment and develop environmental technology for export items. Of 70 billion won set aside for 2002, 50 billion won will be used to continue to carry out the projects which were launched last year, and the remaining 20 billion won will be spent to help develop environmentally friendly products, develop technology to ease air pollution, develop measuring and analyzing equipment, and restore the ecosystem, contaminated soil and underground water. The 'Blue Sky 21' program includes projects to develop technology to reduce air pollutants and gas emitted by automobiles. Also included in the projects for 2002 is the development of technology for forestation of desert areas in northern China to prevent the yellow dust.

Q: Revisions of the Volume-based Waste Fee System became effective in July this year. Would you tell us about the changes?

A: The scheme has been revised to rectify the problems of decline in voluntary community clean up and the inconvenience of purchasing authorized garbage bags, in which the cost of treatment is included. A township-unit waste fee system in countryside areas has been implemented to enable each town to pay for the waste it produces as a whole. Large stores can give customers multipurpose bags that can carry goods home and then be used as garbage bags.

Q: You took office three years ago. Many people supported your 'awakening' environmental policies. For the past three years, you have not only made a lot of achievements but also faced many difficulties. What is your feeling about them?

A: I took office after serving as a professor for 28 years. I would like to attribute the achievement to the efforts of everyone involved and the word of encouragement they gave me. I always thank for them and have a heavier feeling in the shoulders. I should do more to meet their expectations. Notable were the implementation of the Special Acts on Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan Rivers' Watershed Management. replacement of diesel-powered intercity buses with CNG buses, introduction of the producer's responsibility system for recycling of waste and the Green World Cup measures. In particular, I made trips across the country to solicit support for the special acts amid cloudy prospects for the implementation of the acts. I cannot forget that lawmakers of rival parties unanimously approved the draft acts at the National Assembly through dialogue and cooperation. I will remember it for a long time. Also notable was that the Ministry of Environment was chosen as the Most Outstanding Government Office in the business evaluation of government offices in 2001. In addition, I was pleased that 383 or 38 percent of the ministry's employees got promotion during my tenure of office.