1. The 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Katowice, Poland, concluded on December 15 (local time), a day after the expected end date, following two weeks of negotiations.

o The Conference brought together about 20,000 people, including delegates from 197 Parties, climate change-related research institutes, industries, and civic groups. A delegation of the Republic of Korea to the Conference was led by Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae and composed of officials from relevant government agencies* and experts.

* the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Forest Service, the Korea Meteorological Administration, and the Rural Development Administration

[Significance of the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP24)]

2. At the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties in 2016, the Parties agreed to finalize the rulebook for implementing the Paris Agreement by 2018 (COP24).

o The rulebook, which sets out detailed guidelines necessary for implementing the Paris Agreement, was an issue as important as the Paris Agreement.

o For example, the Paris Agreement requires the Parties to submit their greenhouse gas mitigation targets, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), every five years.

- The rulebook contains what specific things each Party should do to implement the Paris Agreement, including information that should be included in each area of mitigation targets (BAU, fixed quantity, and intensity reductions).

[Key accomplishments of COP24]

3. Poland, the host of the Conference, included the concept of “just transition” in the ministerial declaration.

4. The Parties developed the rulebook, which sets out detailed guidelines necessary for implementing the Paris Agreement, including greenhouse gas reduction, adaptation to the impacts of climate change, securing transparency in implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and providing finance and transferring technology to developing countries.

o There was a difference of opinion between developed and developing countries, but the Parties devised common guidelines where the opinions of the ROK and other countries were reflected.

o Accordingly, all Parties to the Paris Agreement are obliged to set their reduction targets, taking into account their conditions, and implement them.

[Remarks by key figures and countries]

5. Representatives from the Parties who attended the high-level segment of the Conference repeatedly stressed the importance of COP24, where the rulebook for implementing the Paris Agreement will be developed, and explained their countries’ policies to respond to climate change.

o UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that political consensus was absolutely necessary at COP24, and called for a strong agreement, saying that it was the last opportunity to overcome climate change.

o Germany, which hosted COP23, announced on November 28 ahead of the opening of COP24 that it would contribute an additional US$850 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the next two years.

o Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore strongly criticized the US, the Russian Federation, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for deciding not to support the IPCC's 1.5°C Special Report.

[Activities by the Minister of Environment and the ROK delegation]

6. The ROK delegation has actively played the role of mediator in the negotiation process, which was at a stalemate due to a difference in position between developed and developing countries.

7. The ROK delegation attended a high-level dialogue on climate finance, and emphasized that developed countries, which have historical responsibilities for climate change, should fulfill their roles and responsibilities in securing finance for the Green Climate Fund.

8. In his keynote address at the high-level segment of the Conference on December 11, Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae (head of the ROK delegation) said that the ROK government was continuing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including raising the mitigation target by revising its “national roadmap for greenhouse gas reductions by 2030” in July.

o At the ministerial-level Talanoa Dialogue, he said that political leadership was more important than anything else to take ambitious actions to achieve the 1.5˚C goal, and explained how the ROK reached an agreement on the revision of the 2030 roadmap.

9. On the occasion of the Conference, Minister Cho met with the Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Minister of the Environment and Water Resources of the Republic of Singapore, and the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia one after another, and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation through exchanges in the environmental sector, including wastes, water management, and air pollution.

o Minister Cho also said that Korean companies were participating in environmental projects in the countries, and asked for interest and support.

10. During the Conference, the ROK government set up a Korean promotion hall to raise awareness of the ROK’s efforts regarding greenhouse gas emissions reduction, adaptation, and cooperation on climate technology. The central and provincial ROK governments and NGOs also hosted 23 seminars and discussed in depth a range of climate change issues.

* unofficial translation