The first Global Green Growth Summit 2011 will begin in Seoul on Monday. The two-day summit, timed to mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Global Green Growth Institute, will be held under the theme of Building Planet-Responsible Civilization.

Headquartered in Seoul, the Global Green Growth Institute was launched on June 16, 2010 with the aim of developing a green-growth economic development model.

The event also coincides with the 15th anniversary of South Korea’s becoming a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the organization’s 50th anniversary.

On the first day of the summit, participants will discuss ways to promote green growth strategies, and to strengthen cooperation between concerned parties.

Monday’s sessions will see attending experts lead discussions in developing an environment-responsible civilization, OECD’s green growth strategy, and Global Green Growth Institute and establishing a new framework for collaboration on related matters. 
The second day of the summit will focus on the Korean economy and G20’s role in global governance.

Tuesday’s sessions will include “Prospects and Challenges of the Korea Economy” chaired by president of the Korea Development Institute Hyun Oh-seok, and “G20 and Global Governance.”

Participants include heads of international organizations including OECD secretary general Jose Angel Gurria, World Bank vice president Inger Andersen and executive secretary of U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Noeleen Heyzer.

Participants also include 91 government officials from 25 nations including Trevor Manuel, chief of South Africa’s National Planning Commission and Denmark’s Minister for Climate and Energy Lykke Friis.

Representatives from industry and academia include Shi Zhengrong, chairman of the world’s largest producer of solar panels Suntech Power Holdings, and Professor Nicholas Stern of the London School of Economics.

The Korean government, the co-organizer of the event along with the OECD, has high hopes for the fledgling Green Growth Summit 2011.

“The Green Growth Summit 2011, which is attended by high level officials, experts from the academia, public and private sectors, and the fields of science and technology, is anticipated to develop into the ‘Davos forum of the green sector,’” Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

Green growth has been one of President Lee Myung-bak’s main policy goals since he took office in 2008.

As such, the government established a five-year action plan for achieving green growth objectives that include cutting greenhouse gas emissions, lowering dependence on fossil fuels and developing advanced eco-friendly technologies.

The Lee Myung-bak administration has also been pushing the issue on the international stage, the most recent results of which include a “green growth alliance” formed with Denmark.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)