Government rejects media criticism of P4G climate summit

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President Moon Jae-in speaks during the P4G Climate Summit Leaders’ Dialogue session held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on May 31. (Yonhap)

The South Korean government on Thursday defended the results of a multilateral climate change summit it hosted in May, amid media criticism that it did not receive approval from some advanced countries and organizations international.

The Chosun Ilbo reported earlier that Britain, Germany, the European Union, the United Nations and others had not signed the Seoul Declaration, adopted after the Partnership for Green Growth summit and Global Goals (P4G) held in Seoul at the end of May.

The Foreign Ministry rejected the report, saying the statement reflected “the diverse positions” of countries “in a balanced manner.”

“The climate change and environment agenda is an area where big differences exist between developed and developing countries and therefore it is difficult to reach consensus,” the ministry said in a text message to media.

“Nonetheless, the government produced the Seoul Declaration which could encompass both developed and developing countries, and gained the participation and support of 39 countries,” he said.

An official from the Cheong Wa Dae presidential office made similar remarks to reporters earlier today, saying the statement was aimed at finding “common ground”.

The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, held largely online, brought together more than 60 leaders and other senior government officials and heads of international organizations.

The joint declaration calls for efforts to achieve carbon neutrality through an “inclusive green recovery” and the strengthening of international cooperation to promote the energy transition to renewable energies. (Yonhap)

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