My mission to East Asia began with a visit to South Korea aimed at strengthening cooperation with UN Environment. In the 1940s, most South Koreans could not expect to live beyond their forties, but now life expectancy is more than 80 years. The current government is prioritizing sustainable development and I believe is capable of scripting similar success on environmental issues. I was also pleased to meet former Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who is now the Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute.
As I met government partners, it was clear that the peace process on the Korean Peninsula is a critical priority for the region. I believe that this is a tremendous opportunity for the region to focus on environmental cooperation and protecting its incredible natural wealth. UN Environment stands ready to support this process in any way possible.
