East Asia Climate Partnership

Climate changes have serious impacts on both the ecosystems and human well-being. Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions directly impacts temperature and precipitation. It also has indirect effects on water resources, agriculture, food security, human health, living conditions, eco-products and services.[1]

Climate change has severe impact on global warming particularly due to its close association with poverty. Since significant portion of the population is concentrated in low-income class, the living environments of developing countries are more vulnerable to climate changes. Especially, damages caused by climate change are the most critical among developing countries where people heavily depend on agriculture and lack sufficient infrastructure.

Prior to entering the 21st century, the UN General Assembly announced eight international development goals, called the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, which include eradicating extreme poverty and developing a new framework for international cooperation. As many developed countries reached consensus that eradicating poverty and environment problems in developing countries are common challenges for the world and as a result, increased the UN target for official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries.

Global regulations to counteract climate changes often impact economic growth for developing countries. In contrast, green growth paradigm reduces greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollutions, and promotes sustainable development, which enables developing countries to tackle climate changes in their pursuit of both economic development and poverty reduction.

Korea has become the first nation to turn into an aid-donor from an aid-recipient country by joining the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD in November 2009. With growing interests in ODA, Korea’s grant aid for developing countries increased by more than five times from 159 million USD in 1996 to 752 million USD in 2005.

In order to raise the amount of Korea’s ODA up to the developed countries’ level, the Korean government announced a national initiative to commit 0.25 percent of its gross national income into ODA by 2015.

Led by KOICA, a government agency dedicated to providing grant aid programs for developing countries, the ‘East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP)’ was launched in 2008 to help developing countries in Asia to fight climate changes and promote green growth.

The East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) is the testimony that Korea is turning its pledges into action in fighting climate changes. Proposed at the G8 Extended Summit in June 2008, Korea has committed to provide a total of 200 million USD for the time period of 2008 - 2012 through the East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) in the form of ODA.[2] Through the East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP), Korea seeks to take the lead in promoting green growth in Asia and global cooperation in response to climate changes, the most pressing problem for the international community. Currently, the KOICA is providing grant aid supports for 21 projects in 10 countries.

To join the international efforts in addressing water shortages in poor countries, the East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) provides ODA worth 78 billion KRW to Mongolia, Azerbaijan, and the Philippines by 2015.

At the end of 2009, the East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) implemented preparatory works for 15 projects designed to the needs of nine partner countries. It also works to develop three new projects for three partner countries in 2010.

The East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) is working closely with a wide range of international organizations, conducting research on ways to address climate change in East Asia, and supported establishing the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which also hosted the East Asian Climate Forum. As part of the efforts to cooperate with international organizations, the East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) is currently supporting the research projects of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).