The Korean government has led the establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) as part of its efforts to spread the green growth agenda and to contribute to the international community’s cooperation toward a green economy. Established in 2012 as an international organization, the number of GGGI’s member states has increased to 48 as of December 2024. GGGI is assisting developing countries in addressing climate change, establishing and implementing green growth strategies and capacity building. GGGI strengthened its recognition as an international organization when it was granted the Official Development Assistance eligibility status by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - Development Assistance Committee in June 2013 and received United Nations General Assembly observer status in December 2013. Furthermore, GGGI heightened its competitiveness by qualifying as a Public International Organization (PIO) eligible for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) financing opportunities and was awarded an A+ rating by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) in its Annual Review.

The Korean government has actively engaged in GGGI meetings and consultations with the Secretariat as well as member states to support GGGI’s efforts to improve its project implementation and governance. As Vice-chair of the Assembly and Council of GGGI and Audit Contact Point, Korea has made constructive efforts towards GGGI’s efficient decision-making and transparent organizational management. Meanwhile, the Korean government will continue to support GGGI so that it may become an even more competitive international organization leading global green growth.

The environmental challenge we face encompasses a wide range of issues concerning air, ecosystems, oceans, hazardous waste and chemical substances, forestry and land, among others. To address such diverse and comprehensive issues, more than 160 environment-related international conventions are in effect with the support of the UN and the OECD. Korea has acceded to a number of leading international conventions on environmental protection and has taken part in the discussions on, and response to, global environmental issues such as the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, protection of marine ecosystems, and international management of chemical and toxic substances.

Korea has actively participated in multilateral environmental cooperation such as the G20 Environment Ministerial Meeting in September and the sixth session of the ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development, even though a number of international environmental meetings were postponed or held online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Korean government promulgated Amendments to the Annexes to the Stockholm Convention in March 2020 and the Minamata Convention on Mercury in March 2020 to strengthen its cooperation with the international community in protecting people and the environment from the risk of mercury and mercuric and persistent organic pollutants.

The global discussion on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity currently revolves around the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, or the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, ends in 2020 and new strategy was selected last year in Montreal. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CBD held on December, in Montreal, which shows the way for efforts of international society for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for 10 years.

Negotiations are underway to develop a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and Korea has submitted its views based on its consultations with diverse stakeholders, organizations, and experts. Korea also participated in Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to take part in the process for developing Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

During the 5th UN Environmental Assembly(UNEA-5) held in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2022, the international community adopted a resolution to establish an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. In this regard, there have been 5 Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee(INC) sessions, in which Korea has actively participated by highlighting preventive measures based on scientific evidence, the importance of transition toward circular economy, and the necessity of nationally determined action plan. In particular, Korea hosted the INC-5(25 November-1 December, 2024) in Busan and actively contributed to the negotiation, with high-level officials including Foreign Minister having a meeting with INC Chair and other Heads of Delegations from major countries, to call on prompt and substantial progress on the negotiation. Korea will actively contribute to the establishment of the international environmental norms to address plastic pollution based on our advanced circular economy policies and experiences.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the “Green Round Table” in November 2016 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between international organizations and domestic agencies related to climate change, environment and green economy issues. By 2024, eleventh rounds of the Green Round Table were held.

Under the theme 'Global governance to address plastic pollution', the eleventh Green Round Table was held in July 2024, contributing to devising possible international cooperation measures by sharing trends in UN plastic treaty, introducing policies of government of Republic of Korea related to circular economy and discussing for plastic pollution.

The Green Round Table meetings have helped to promote cooperation between diverse environment-related international organizations and relevant public and private institutions in achieving the green economy and the SDGs while providing more opportunities for students to take part in the discussions on the environment.