First
global gathering of business leaders after
COP15 to be powered entirely on renewable
energy
Seoul (Republic of Korea),
21 August 2009 - The Republic of Korea will
host the Business for the Environment Summit
(B4E) and Champions of the Earth Award in
Seoul next year to coincide with Earth Day
on 22 April, the Ministry of Environment
of the Republic of Korea and the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) jointly
announced yesterday.
With US$38 billion earmarked
over the next four years for a series of
eco-friendly investments that are estimated
to create 960,000 jobs, the country is considered
as one of the leading proponents of the
Global Green New Economy, making it a very
relevant host for these two UNEP events.
Now in its fourth year,
and following successful meetings in Paris
and Singapore, B4E is the biggest annual
gathering of leaders from business, government,
NGOs and the media, which aims to foster
dialogue and business-driven action towards
a global green economy. The summit is co-hosted
by UNEP, the UN Global Compact, and the
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), and will
address topics such as resource efficiency,
renewable energies, new business models
and climate policy and strategies. It is
planned to be the world's first summit powered
entirely on renewable energy.
The 2010 Champions of
the Earth Awards, which is hosted in conjunction
with B4E, honours outstanding environmental
leaders in four categories: Policy Leadership,
Entrepreneurial Vision, Science & Innovation,
and Inspiration & Action. As the UN's
flagship environmental award, the Champions
of the Earth has been presented annually
by UNEP since 2005 to catalysts of positive
environmental change who, through the world
of politics, business, science, and civil
society demonstrate transformational solutions
to environmental threats.
Past laureates include
Al Gore, Mikhail Gorbachev, former New Zealand
Prime Minister Helen Clark and bio-mimicry
pioneer Janine Benyus.
Speaking after the signing
ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding,
UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive
Director Achim Steiner said: B4E 2010 will
be a timely opportunity for leaders to reflect
on what was agreed at this December's crucial
UN climate convention meeting and its implications
for making the transition to a low-carbon
green economy. The
Champions of the Earth
gives us the opportunity to recognize outstanding
and catalytic individuals or groups who
are driving the shift to a more resource-efficient
development path. Demonstrating vision and
leadership with its green growth policy
and initiatives, the Republic of Korea is
the perfect place to host these important
events for the environment."
"Korean business
needs to play a lead role in the transition
of our nation towards a clean, low-carbon
economy" said Korean Environment Minister
Maanee Lee at the event. "Hosting B4E
and the Champions of the Earth will provide
an excellent platform for the Korean government
and industries to share our green growth
initiatives with the rest of the world and
to explore new, collaborative opportunities
for a more sustainable future".
Organizers will ensure
the greening of the events with energy generated
entirely from solar power, a paper-free
media centre, and local transportation using
bicycles and hybrid vehicles. Speakers and
audiences around the world will be able
to participate using broadband television
and social networking technology; and only
local, sustainable-farmed food will be served.
Emissions from air, train and car travel
will be offset by funding renewable energy
systems to power orphanages, senior citizen
homes and rural community centres around
the Republic of Korea.
UNEP has recently signed
up with LG Electronics for a three-year
partnership on the Champions of the Earth,
while B4E is supported by Dow, CNN, Nalco,
First Solar and Siemens.
Notes to Editors:
About the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the United Nations
agency for addressing environmental issues
at the global and regional level. Its mandate
is to coordinate the development of environmental
policy consensus by keeping the global environment
under review and bringing emerging issues
to the attention of governments and the
international community for action.
About United Nations
Global Compact
Through the power of
collective action, the Global Compact seeks
to promote responsible corporate citizenship
so that business can be part of the solution
to the challenges of globalisation. In this
way, the private sector - in partnership
with other social actors - can help realize
a more sustainable and inclusive global
economy.
About the Ministry of
Environment, Republic of Korea
The Ministry of Environment
is the central government authority in charge
of environmental protection. to facilitate
the creation of a healthy and sound environment,
the enhancement of international cooperation
and the encouragement of citizen's participation
in environmental issues. For more information,
visit www.me.go.kr.
For more information, please contact:
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson/Head of
Media
