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This proposal comes from the council on the future of Korea. We studied a typical problem
in Korea; we strive towards fostering growth, but now new growth is not creating jobs. At
the same time we should comply with Copenhagen in the standards, whatever, that there is
a satisfying growth, job creation and involvement in integrity simultaneously, has become a
great national task in South Korea. But it is not limited to South Korea: it is a kind
of global agenda. Think about this kind of very ideal situation; you make a 50% reduction
in resource input, yet create a 20% increase in job creation and 50% increase in economic
value. I know it is very utopian and idealistic, but they are the kind of things that we want
to really achieve. But when we look at the so-called existing global governance structure,
we have some gaps; every country has been pursuing a very fragmented approach, and we
see very weak horizontal cooperation and vertical coordination from the international organisations
all the way down to individuals has been very, very fragile too.
So, how to overcome these kinds of issues? We are thinking in our strategies obviously
the most important thing is technology, green technology, particularly if we can come up
with some kind of synergistic green technology that can combine nanotechnology, IT technology,
earth monitoring, whatever, then I think we may find some clues. But at the same time
we need a fundamental shift in social paradigms for wide consumption and conservation kinds
of things, through education and saving mind. But another one, as was discussed during the
Copenhagen climate summit, the whole issue of the sharing; there is a big green technology
divide between the rich countries and the poor countries and how to come up with resource
sharing. As both things seem to be very important ones, then who are the major actors? In resolving
these issues we have a collective action dilemma; therefore certain individual, willing countries
should take initiative, form an alliance with NGOs, even private green entrepreneurs, firms,
research and development institutions, and try to come up with new kinds of institutional
governance. It may not be easy, but we can really come up with some kind of so-called
‘institutional niches’ from which we can forge a new pattern of cooperation and coordination
that can enhance horizontal cooperation as well as vertical coordination.
And then, what kinds of proposals do we have? One important thing is this, we all know that
the Copenhagen Accord was weak, okay, but we should understand a mandate to strengthen
the Copenhagen Accord in a much more positive way that involves international cooperation.
Another one is the whole issue of global sharing; how do you come up with new technologies and
how to share those new green technologies with developing countries too? And how to
come up with some kind of global institutional mechanism that can boost a new paradigm shift
for wide consumption and resource conservation? And also here, the most important thing is
leadership commitment; without leadership commitment it would be extremely difficult
for us to foresee any kinds of tangible result.
With regard that – this is a quarterly English magazine called Global Asia – President
Lee Myung-Bak of South Korea wrote a very, very interesting piece. It is called –
the title goes like this, Shifting Paradigms: The Road to Global Green Growth. In this article
he made a very interesting proposal; his government is willing to create the Green Growth Research
Institute which is truly international, and in South Korea they are willing to serve as
a hub-state for creating and fostering new technological innovation relating to green
growth. Another one is South Korea is willing to serve as a breeding state so that South
Korea can serve as some kind of spreader or sharer of this new technology to help developing
countries. Also in the article, President Myung-Bak argues that he is willing to take
a ‘me first’ approach. In other words, he is willing to take initiative, voluntary
initiative, in doing that. That means what? That he is willing to come up with the money
for this project. So my basic idea is this: let us form a coalition with the World Economic
Forum and then the South Korean government and the World Economic Forum can push for
these ideas, in such a way creating this new noble idea of green responsible growth. Thank
you.