The Ministry of Environment announced on the 28th the attendance of the 18th session of Conference of the Parties (COP18) held from November 26 to December 7 in Doha, Qatar. Led by the Minister of Environment Yoo Young-sook, Korean delegates include the Minister of Strategy and Finance, public officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Presidential Committee on Green Growth and experts from industries and civic groups.

The session is the largest international conference which has been held every year with participants of ministerial level coming from across the world to discuss measures against climate change such as greenhouse gas reduction and adaptation.

At this session, about 10,000 participants from 190 parties of UNFCC representative and industrial and civic experts are expected for presence.

At the 18th session, amendment of Kyoto Protocol for the second commitment and new climate change regime beyond 2020 will be mainly discussed while official approval of Green Climate Fund, which Korea is selected as the host country, takes place at the closing ceremony.

First, discussions on amendment of Kyoto Protocol will be made including finalization of the second commitment period (8 years for advanced countries and 5 years for developing countries are proposed) and emission reduction targets.

Successful closure of Long-term Cooperative Action (LCA) will also be treated. As the host country of the Green Climate Fund, Korea will emphasize that negotiation on finance is an important factor for progressing climate change negotiations and that it should be discussed continuously to draw tangible outcomes. Also, Korea will actively participate in setting medium-term and long-term finances.

In addition, as negotiations on Durban Platform which was agreed at the UN climate conference in Durban (2011) are commenced in 2012, basic frame and work plans will be discussed. Korea will support the idea that work plans considering the national circumstances should be prepared by 2015.

*Government press release (November 28)