Korea to chair G20 green growth working group

Korea will lead roundtable discussions on energy efficiency and clean resources at the Group of 20 summit in Mexico in June as chair of the working group on green growth, a local news agency said Monday.

The chairmanship comes upon the Mexican government’s request, Yonhap News reported, citing a Seoul official. Members of the group have yet to be confirmed.

As chair of the group, the country will orchestrate discussions on green growth and help draw up comprehensive recommendations at the two-day event in Los Cabos, one of the Latin American country’s major tourist destinations.

Seoul officials are also believed to be seeking support from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for related research.

Korea is also likely to lead another working group on development along with other countries, the agency added.

Green growth is one of the key agenda of the international forum, which will also include global economic stability and financial safety nets.

It is also the centerpiece of President Lee Myung-bak’s economic policy that cherishes environmentally sustainable development while boosting local economy and creating jobs.

At the summit in Seoul in 2010, Korea played a significant role in widening discussions to include issues like climate change, food security, development and anti-corruption.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)