Sejong, November 28 - South Korean Environment Minister Han Wha-jin held discussions with representatives of major countries and international organizations to strengthen cooperation in climate and environment during the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Sharm El Sheikh. From November 15 to 18, Minister Han Wha-jin, head of the South Korean delegation, held bilateral and multilateral talks with representatives of major countries and international organizations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the European Union, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). First, on November 15, Minister Han met with Gerassimos Thomas, Director General of the Taxation and Customs Union at the European Commission, to discuss the carbon pricing systems of the EU and Korea. Korea and the European Union have agreed to maintain a comprehensive information-sharing system at each stage of implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM) to prevent it from acting as a new trade barrier. The EU agreed to operate a consultative body consisting of multinational experts, including Koreans, to collect opinions in establishing detailed procedures and standards, such as carbon intensity and price. 

On the same day, the South Korean Environment Minister met with the Mongolian Minister of Environment and Tourism Bat-Ulzii Bat-Erdene. They agreed to develop further cooperative relations between the two nations, such as joint projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Minister Han and Minister Bat-Ulzii Bat-Erdene agreed to improve communication between the two nations for the success of the "Ulaanbaatar Landfill Methane Reduction Project," a pilot project to be started in the first half of next year, and for discovering new business opportunities. 

Minister Han Wha-jin attended the meeting of senior representatives of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) on November 16 to share her expectations for the meeting's outcomes. She pledged that South Korea would play a role as a bridge between developed and developing countries in climate change negotiations by closely working with the six countries. During the meeting, the minister said, "I hope COP27 would be a starting point for implementing the Paris Agreement rulebook, which was finalized at COP26 and laid a foundation to implement." 

On November 16, Minister Han met with US special envoy for climate change John Kerry to discuss climate issues and policies between the two countries, including implementing the "Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)" and energy transition plans. Special envoy John Kerry said, "The agreement reached at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow should not be set back." He requested South Korea, Japan, and the European Union play a more exemplary role in expanding renewable energy, reducing coal, and meeting the goals of the global methane pledge as a leading country for carbon neutrality. For her part, Minister Han noted that Korea supports the results of COP26 and plans to establish concrete implementation plans for coal reduction and global methane pledges in consultation with the concerned ministries. In addition, both sides agreed to hold a separate bilateral meeting at the expert level to discuss cooperative measures for GHG reduction in each sector.

Afterward, Minister Han Wha-jin met with Australian Assistant Minister of Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAlister to share Korea-Australia policies to resolve climate issues and Korea's achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the emission trading scheme. The two countries reached a consensus on supporting the expansion of the carbon market, such as the emissions trading scheme, as a means of achieving carbon neutrality. The two countries also agreed to seek a joint response to deal with the influence of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

On November 17, Minister Han attended the "Net-Zero Government Initiative" launch and pledged to contribute to realizing a carbon-neutral society by reducing greenhouse gases in government operations, together with major nations, including the United States, Japan, Germany, Australia, and Canada. By participating in the "Net-Zero Government Initiative," the Korean government plans to establish a roadmap for implementing greenhouse gas reduction and energy saving in government operations.

On November 17, Minister Han met with Executive Director Inger Andersen of the United Nations Environment Programme, European Commission's Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, and UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber. On November 18, she met with Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, and Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault to discuss ways to work together to address climate change and environmental issues.

Contact: Lee Hyuk, Deputy Director

International Cooperation Division / +82-(0)44-201-6565

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr