1. On September 4, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Kim Hyo Eun attended the ministerial panel session, titled “Elevating the role of Ocean Governance and Blue Economy in Africa,” of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023 held in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 4 to 6. In the session, Ambassador Kim highlighted the importance of oceans and shared the Republic of Korea (ROK)’s efforts to respond to climate change, its bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan, and its plan to hold the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit. 

2. Ambassador Kim shared with other participants that the ROK government, in cooperation with enterprises, civil society and others, is making efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and its nationally determined contribution (NDC) by 2030 and that the Korean Peninsula has been developing shipbuilding, maritime transport, fisheries, aquaculture and maritime tourism as its main industries. She went on to stress that oceans are drawing more attention than ever in terms of their potential as nature-based solutions for mitigation and adaptation, for sustainable development, for food security and for job creation.

° The Ambassador explained that the ROK’s 2050 carbon neutrality roadmap consists of various plans for its implementation such as the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, the offshore wind power and carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology utilizing ocean, and low-carbon, environment-friendly maritime transport.

° The Ambassador also brought attention to the ROK's active support for African countries in their fisheries and aquaculture industries and their capability-building efforts. The ROK is also assisting developing countries to adapt to climate change by co-hosting an “Adaptation Week” with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. The ROK is supporting developing countries through international organizations including the Green Climate Fund and Global Green Growth Institute.

3. Ambassador Kim pointed out that the ROK government is working for Busan, the ROK’s largest coastal city, to become the host of World Expo 2030, stressing that World Expo 2030 in Busan is expected to help all stakeholders -- the government, businesses and civil society -- come together and find various solutions, such as sustainable life in harmony with nature, the development of technology for humanity, and the building of platforms shared by all. 

4. The Ambassador, referring to the ROK’s plan to hold the Korea-Africa Summit next year to build mutually beneficial, sustainable and enduring partnership with Africa, emphasized that the Summit will serve as an opportunity to significantly enhance Korea-Africa strategic partnership and solidarity.

5. The panel session was joined by Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment of the Seychelles Flavien Joubert, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund Mafalda Duarte, and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Antonio Pedro, among others.