2013 Songdo Model Climate Change Conference of the Parties, 2013 SMCOP
Global Climate Change Discussion at Songdo
Celebrating the 1st year following the confirmation of GCF Secretariat Operations, the 2013 Songdo Model Climate Change Conference of the Parties (SMCOP) was held from November 2nd to 4th. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is an international organization initiated to avoid environmental damage caused by climate change in developing countries and to support their adaptability. I participated in this event as a student, and I can say that the event itself was bigger than anything I could have expected.
Writer Choi Mi-jeong Photographer Kim Sung-hwan
As an international conference, opening speeches and other programs all took place in English, no doubt catering to all of the foreigners in attendance. True to its title, SMCOP addressed a number of climate issues such as global warming. Agendas included how advanced and developing countries should negotiate over issues, how much time and cost it would take to restore damaged natural areas, and how rapidly society should develop.
After the opening ceremony, 300 participants from Korea and abroad divided into four departments to reenact the Climate Change Conference: the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Technology Enforcement Committee (EC), and Green Climate Fund Task Force (GCF TF). Each department discussed and presented on four subjects: climate change symptoms diagnosis and influence evaluation, carbon dioxide emission reduction and its outlook, necessary technology evaluation and development for carbon dioxide emission reduction and adaptation, and the recent achievements and financial status of the GCF. The conference was carried out by appointing individuals to become president of his or her designated country and presenting on its environmental status, challenges, and solutions.
On the 2nd day of SMCOP, the conference of the president and vice-president and 2nd annex conference were held on the same subject as the previous day, with an emphasis on climate issues and the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is a climate change agreement adopted at the 3rd climate change conference in Japan, December 1997. The specific implementation identifies 38 countries such as the USA, Japan, Australia, and the EU, which, from 2008 to 2012, should reduce greenhouse gases at least 5.2% from levels in the 1990s.
The general meeting was the last conference at the event. Unlike the previous day, the meeting consisted only of representatives from each department who reported on issues they had covered over the last two days. The SBSTA made GCF suggestions for climate change adaptation, the SBI highlighted the GCF's role in greenhouse gas emission reduction in developing countries, the TEC made a presentation about free patent use for environmental technology and eco-friendly technology education center, and the GCF TF discussed the fundraising systems and financial contribution types, such as whether only cash should be accepted for contributions and whether a mandatory contribution system should be applied to all countries.
The 2013 SMCOP was hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City and Yeonsu-gu and co-organized by Yeonsu-gu and Inha University. The "Songdo Decision" was unanimously adopted after an enthusiastic discussion among 300 participants. The conference followed existing principles: advanced countries should minimize side effects from greenhouse gases and climate change following the “polluter pays” principle. Additionally, the "Cancun Declaration," which involves raising funds for resources in developing countries by 2020, was reinstituted, and effective solutions to adapt to climate change and the urgency of greenhouse gas emission reduction was highlighted. To that end, a suggestion was made to develop a protocol with legally binding force, with a temporary department initiated as an affiliated organization of United Nations Framework Convention and Climate Change (UNFCCC) for implementation.
Through this event celebrating the 1st year of GCF Secretariat Operation confirmation, many Korean and foreign students, future global leaders, learned about climate change issues and shared with each other. Climate change issues affect the survival of human beings so they should be a concern of everyone in the world. Through the 2013 SMCOP, Incheon Metropolitan City’s Songdo moved one step closer to the center of the world, striving to come up with climate change solutions.
