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Ministry of Foreign Affairs REPUBLIC OF KOREA

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Multilateral Environment Diplomacy

  • Multilateral Environment Diplomacy

  • Cooperation with GGGI(Global Green Growth Institute)

    The Korean government has led the establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) as part of its efforts to spread the green growth agenda and to contribute to the international community’s cooperation toward a green economy. Established in 2012 as an international organization, the number of GGGI’s member states has increased to 49 as of December 2024. GGGI is assisting developing countries in addressing climate change, establishing and implementing green growth strategies and capacity building. GGGI strengthened its recognition as an international organization when it was granted the Official Development Assistance eligibility status by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - Development Assistance Committee in June 2013 and received United Nations General Assembly observer status in December 2013. Furthermore, GGGI heightened its competitiveness by qualifying as a Public International Organization (PIO) eligible for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) financing opportunities and was awarded an A+ rating by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) in its Annual Review.

    In August 2024, during its General Assembly, the GGGI appointed Mr. Sang-Hyup Kim, former Co-Chair of the 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission of Korea, as its new Director-General, marking the first Korean to hold this position. As an expert who contributed to the establishment and internationalization of GGGI as well as Korea’s successful hosting of the Green Climate Fund(GCF), Director-General Kim is expected to play a pivotal role in solidifying GGGI’s status as a key international organization supporting inclusive green growth and climate change response efforts. Through this appointment, the Korean government has laid the groundwork for closer collaboration with GGGI in the future.

    The Korean government has actively engaged in GGGI meetings and consultations with the Secretariat as well as member states to support GGGI’s efforts to improve its project implementation and governance. As Vice-chair of the Assembly and Council of GGGI and Audit Contact Point, Korea has made constructive efforts towards GGGI’s efficient decision-making and transparent organizational management. Meanwhile, the Korean government will continue to support GGGI so that it may become an even more competitive international organization leading global green growth.

  • Strengthening International Cooperation for Environmental Protection

    The environmental challenge we face encompasses a wide range of issues concerning air, ecosystems, oceans, hazardous waste and chemical substances, forestry and land, among others. To address such diverse and comprehensive issues, more than 160 environment-related international conventions are in effect with the support of the UN and the OECD. Korea has acceded to a number of leading international conventions on environmental protection and has taken part in the discussions on, and response to, global environmental issues such as the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, protection of marine ecosystems, and international management of chemical and toxic substances.


    Korea has been actively participating in and contributing to various multilateral cooperation discussions, including the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the 16th COP to the Basel Convention in May 2023, the 5th COP to the Minamata Convention in October 2023, the 6th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in February 2024, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP in December 2024. Korea is strengthening cooperation with the international community to protect public health and the environment.


    The global discussion on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is currently centered around the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Since the adoption of the new strategic plan for Biodiversity(Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) for the period 2020-2030 in Montreal in 2022, The Korean government has actively engaged in a series of processes aiming to suppport global efforts for the biodiversity conservation. This includes establishing and submitting our national strategies to ensure that the views of various domestic stakeholders are reflected, as well as participating in the 16th conference of parties to the CBD held in 2024 and the resumed session in 2025.


    During the 5th UN Environmental Assembly(UNEA-5) held in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2022, the international community adopted a resolution to establish an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. In this regard, there have been 5 Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee(INC) sessions, in which Korea has actively participated by highlighting preventive measures based on scientific evidence, the importance of transition toward circular economy, and the necessity of nationally determined action plan. In particular, Korea hosted the INC-5 (25 November  1 December, 2024) in Busan and actively contributed to the negotiation, with high-level officials including Foreign Minister meeting with INC Chair and other Heads of Delegations from key countries, to call on prompt and substantial progress on the negotiation. Korea will actively contribute to the establishment of the international environmental norms to address plastic pollution based on our advanced circular economy policies and experiences.

  • Green Round Table to Enhance Cooperation Among Environment Stakeholders

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the “Green Round Table” in November 2016 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between international organizations and domestic agencies related to climate change, environment and green economy issues. By 2024, eleventh rounds of the Green Round Table were held.

    Under the theme 'Global governance to address plastic pollution', the eleventh Green Round Table was held in July 2024, contributing to devising possible international cooperation measures by sharing trends in UN plastic treaty, introducing policies of government of Republic of Korea related to circular economy and discussing for plastic pollution.

    The Green Round Table meetings have helped to promote cooperation between diverse environment-related international organizations and relevant public and private institutions in achieving the green economy and the SDGs while providing more opportunities for students to take part in the discussions on the environment.