President Moon Jae-in on May 31 chairs the Leaders' Session of the P4G Seoul Summit at the capital's Dongdaemun Design Plaza. (Yonhap News)

By Jung Joo-ri and Yoon Sojung

World leaders who participated in the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit said in a joint statement on May 31, "We reaffirm that the fight against COVID-19 leaves important lessons for the global response to the climate crisis and believe that the pandemic should be overcome through green recovery as a progressive strategy."

"We take note that the oceans serve as natural carbon sinks and will make efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the oceans through decarbonization of maritime transport and prevent additional marine pollution."

The comments were from the Seoul Declaration, whose adoption on May 20 concluded the two-day multilateral summit.

The participating nations said in the declaration, "We have, looking forward to the commitments to be made at the G7, G20 and other international fora, agreed to further strengthen cooperation to realize the goals of the Paris Agreement while rendering our full support for a successful UNFCCC (United Nations Climate Change Conference) COP26 to be held in November 2021."

"We acknowledge that green recovery should steer our efforts to rebuild the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to limit the temperature increase to well below 2°C aiming for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."

"We will strive to pursue green recovery as an inclusive process that reflects a just transition, taking into account different national circumstances as well as socially and environmentally vulnerable communities," it added.

Calling climate change, desertification and land degradation, and biodiversity loss "three of the greatest environmental challenges of our times," the leaders said they "encourage approaches that will help respond to them in a way that maximizes co-benefits and minimizes trade-offs."

To resolve climate change issues, they proposed measures such as increasing the share of renewable energy generation such as solar and wind to continue public-private cooperation worldwide, phasing out existing coal and stopping public financing for construction of coal-fired plants abroad, focusing on energy efficiency, achieving sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems, pursuing smart and resilient green cities where humans coexist with nature in harmony, and supporting a green transition in developing countries.

The declaration also mentioned the need to "underscore the importance of (civil society's) full and effective participation in climate action," encourage businesses to "commit to improve their ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) performance" and "develop youth-driven platforms such as the Global Youth Climate challenges (GYCC) in the process."

President Moon Jae-in said in the summit's closing speech that he hopes this will be an important starting point for all humankind to actively take part right now in climate actions to create a green future, urging "green action" immediately.

Held via videoconferencing, the summit was attended by heads of state and high-ranking officials from 50 countries and the leaders of 20 international organizations. Colombia will host the next edition in 2023.

etoilejr@korea.kr