SINGAPORE ― Green growth, South Korea’s key growth initiative, will play an important role in developing sustainable development goals for Asian and European countries, said a high-ranking official from the Asia-Europe Foundation, under the Asia-Europe Meeting.

“Key priority of the Asia-Europe Environment Forum, or ENVforum, of ASEF will be placed on sustainable development goals and green growth together for the next three years,” ASEF director for intellectual exchange Thierry Schwarz said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald.

The ENVforum, endorsed by the ASEM in 2003, has been a think tank for ASEM to research and debate sustainable development issues, including the environment. 

The forum is planning to launch a three-year program next year to support the dialogue on SDG creation alongside the completion of the Millennium Development Goals.

“We are going to develop a proposal for SGDs, which will be acceptable for both Asian and European countries,” he added.

He stressed the growing importance of green growth in sustainable development.

“Greening the economy is a big part of sustainable development processes. Countries where people are able to develop green technology, green industry and green services will be more likely to be well positioned for sustainable development,” he said.

When it comes to green growth strategy, he said Korea is a good example.

“Korea is well known for green growth promotion (in the international community). Korea has a strong network of small and medium-sized enterprises at an international level and so it makes sense for Korea to associate green growth and SMEs,” he said.

However, he advised that Korea needs to cover the social dimension in its green growth and eco-innovation-related initiative.

“One comment is that you have to adopt the social dimension in order to cover the full spectrum of sustainable development. The green economy covers the environment side and economic side, but the social side seems to be missed,” he said.

The eco-innovation index, developed by the ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center, also needs to cover the social dimension, he added.

ASEIC is trying to attract the ENVforum to Korea next year. The center became engaged in the forum as a partner from beginning of this year with three others ― Hanns Seidel Foundation in Germany, the Institute of Global Environmental Strategies in Japan and the Swedish International Development Agency.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)