By Kim Hyelin and Yoon Hee Young

The 2021 P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) Seoul Summit opened on May 30.

The summit is a multilateral event for discussing sustainable methods of development worldwide like responding to climate change.

This is the second edition after the inaugural summit was held in October 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as being the first multilateral summit on the environment hosted by Korea.

Those attending via videoconferencing included 47 heads of state such as President Moon Jae-in; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; British Prime Minister Boris Johnson; French President Emmanuel Macron; European Council President Charles Michel; and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as well as 21 leaders of international organizations.

The event runs through May 31 under the theme "Inclusive Green Recovery toward Carbon Neutrality."

The opening ceremony featured videos and dance using Korea's state-of-the-art digital technology under the theme "Green We Go, Change We Make.”

President Moon in his opening speech announced strengthened pledges on climate action for "inclusive green recovery" that includes developing countries to overcome the unprecedented global climate and environment crisis.

On May 31, he will speak at a real-time discussion with heads of state or high-ranking foreign officials in a videoconference including U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.

Apart from the summit, scheduled talks featuring specialists will cover food and agriculture, water, energy, cities and the circular economy.

The P4G will end with the adoption of the Seoul Declaration.

Cheong Wa Dae in a statement called the summit an opportunity to build global solidarity for better and greener reconstruction after the pandemic ends and to boost climate action in the 2050 carbon neutrality era.

At the same time, it added, the event will serve as a steppingstone for Korea to become the leading country in responding to climate and environmental issues.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr