Press Release
Minister's Welcoming Address to the Eighth International Congress of Ecology
- Date:
- 2002-08-12
- View:
- 5,318
Honorable Dr. John Lee, president of International Congress of Ecology, Professor Peter Grant of Princeton University, Dr. Ihm Byung-sun, chairman of the Organizing Committee and INTECOL vice-president, President Kil Bong-Seop of the Ecological Society of Korea, ladies and gentlemen!
It is my great pleasure to see the Eighth International Congress of Ecology convene here in Seoul Korea, the successful co-host of the World Cup soccer games. I extend my hearty welcome to all of you, especially those who traveled long distances to attend this Congress.
I understand that the organizing committee of this symposium has invited 21 globally renowned experts as guest speakers. It plans to convene some 73 advanced seminars and offer engaging lectures to the general public. I am positive that the Eighth INTECOL will produce results greater than any other in the past occasions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The industrial culture of the 20th century has allowed the humanity to attain incredible economic development. However, this accomplishment has led us to another challenge of reviving the severely degraded global environment. Extreme weathers and climate change due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, reductions of forests, biodiversity loss, and severe pollution in our freshwater resources are just some of the major challenges that humanity must solve in order to guarantee our very own survival.
Starting with the Stockholm Declaration in 1972, the global community has adopted a variety of agreements with a view to safeguarding natural ecosystems for the wellbeing of present and future generations. The concept of sustainable development was introduced in 1987 as the strategic pathway toward long-term human and environmental viability and officially came to underpin global environmental efforts at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Convention on Climate Change, the Biodiversity Convention and the Doha Development Agenda are only a few manifestations of sustainable development at work.
The Republic of Korea actively partakes in the international efforts to realize sustainability. In addition to being a party to various conventions and contributing to their decision-making processes, Korea is engaged in extensive bilateral and multilateral environmental cooperation efforts.
Domestically, the Korean Government is making multifaceted efforts toward sustainable development under the slogan of "Realizing Sustainable Society". Some of the major policy initiatives include:
- Establishment of national eco-network for systematic management of national territory,
- Implementation of Eco-2 projects which seek to achieve both economic growth and environmental preservation,
- Introduction of water quality management based on precautionary principles through the enactment of special river management act for 4 major rivers in Korea.
- And the implementation of the Blue Sky 21 projects which promises to bring drastic improvement in the air quality of the capital city and its vicinities.
The Theme for today's seminar is "Ecology in a Changing World". I believe it is very meaningful and important that globally prominent experts from wide spectrum of ecological science to gather together, exchange opinions and try to find solutions. I expect that the fruits of this Congress will greatly improve the global environment by to light some of the best means of protecting and restoring our essential ecosystem.
Again I am confident that in-depth discussions among dedicated environmental scholars will find apt solutions to some of the grave problems we face today.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all of the Congress participants for your interest and commitment to improving our planet. I hope to see you again at the 9th Congress in Canada in 2005 with a brighter outlook for our common future.
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