The Korean government (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Environment (ME) and Korea Meteorology Administration (KMA)) announced that Korean professor Hoesung Lee was elected as the new chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at its session underway in Croatia on October 6.
After a tight match among six candidates, Prof. Lee was elected by 22 votes in a run-off with Jean-Pascale from Belgium. Mr. Jean-Pascale has secured support from Europe and Africa through active campaigning over the past two years and the U.S. candidate has emerged as a leading candidate with strong support from Obama administration, so the election was unpredictable even on the election day.
To win votes of member countries, the Korean delegation headed by Deputy Administrator Jeong Hong-sang of KMA went all out to contact every participating party in Croatia.
Prof. Lee’s election as IPCC chair is a splendid accomplishment based on President Park Geun-hye’s summit diplomacy and full support from relevant ministries and diplomatic missions abroad including Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea in Geneva.
Pan-government IPCC election bureau consisting of MOFA, ME and KMA has supervised and coordinated support activities and KMA launched and operated a Task Force to support Prof. Lee’s election by playing a key role in bargaining and campaigning.
When ministers, vice-ministers, administrators and vice administrators of relevant ministries had meetings with their counterparts abroad, they have asked for each government’s support. In addition, all diplomatic missions abroad have promoted the Koreans candidate’s capabilities and vision to representatives of 195 IPCC members.
In particular, Prof. Lee and government representative’s visit to 23 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe to appeal for support has played a decisive role in wining votes at the last minute.
Private Advisory Committee also joined the effort to support Prof. Lee to be elected as chair. The Private Advisory Committee chaired by the former Environment Minister Kim Myung-ja has engaged in support activities with expertise and experiences of prominent figures including Chung Eui-yong, Chairman of ICAPP Standing Committee and Professor Chung Tae-yong of Yonsei University.
Moreover, relevant agencies such as Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Korea Development Institute (KDI), Korea Institute of International Economic Policy (KEIP) have supported the campaign and asked for lawmaker’s support through parliamentary diplomacy at the National Assembly Climate Change Forum.
Above all, Hoesung Lee has accumulated hands-on experience and knowledge in the field by servicing as co-chair of working group and vice chair of IPCC for the past 20 years and his capability was highly recognized by the international community.
Prof. Lee’s election as IPP chair illustrates that Korea’s effort to combat climate change has been highly appreciated by the governments across the globe. The international community seems expect Korea to play a bridging role between advanced and developing nations to build a global consensus. Also, Mr. Lee’s election is expected to raise Korea’s position within the post-2020 climate regime and add a new momentum to Korea’s climate change policies.