Ex-UN chief urges green transition to drive growth, boost competitiveness

Ban Ki-moon urged countries at the Global Green Growth Week Summit in Seoul on Thursday to accelerate the green transition to support long-term growth and competitiveness. He identified technological innovation, large-scale capital mobilization and stronger international cooperation as priorities for turning commitments into measurable results. Ban said developing countries need affordable financing and investment expertise to advance viable projects. Speakers also discussed Korea’s K-GX strategy, green project financing, AI’s environmental impact and regional climate cooperation.

The Global Green Growth Institute works with 55 member states and 30 partner countries and regional integration organizations, supporting projects in more than 57 countries.

Global Green Growth Week opened in Seoul on Tuesday for four days under the theme Powering the race for green transformation: Technology, capital and global cooperation at scale.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Korea’s K-GX strategy seeks to make carbon neutrality a driver of economic growth and quality job creation.

Lee described the Global Verified Carbon Market, developed with the GGGI, as a way to turn emission reductions in developing countries into high-integrity carbon credits for international use.

Climate Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Korea would draw on manufacturing strengths in steel and semiconductors to pursue AI and green transformations and decarbonize power generation, industry, transport and buildings.

Published Oct 29, 2026 4:33 pm KST

Seoul's finance minister touts carbon neutrality as way to create quality jobs

Ban Ki-moon, president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), delivers welcoming remarks at the Global Green Growth Week Summit at the Westin Josun Seoul in central Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Ban Ki-moon, president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), urged countries on Thursday to accelerate the shift toward a greener economy to secure long-term growth and strengthen their global competitiveness.

Speaking at the Global Green Growth Week (GGGW) Summit, the former U.N. secretary-general identified technological innovation, large scale capital mobilization and stronger international cooperation as three priorities for turning green transition commitments into tangible, measurable results.

“The green transition is an economic imperative, a strategic investment and an opportunity to create green jobs, strengthen energy security, improve public health and build more resilient societies,” Ban said in his welcoming remarks at the summit’s opening ceremony. “The countries that move decisively today will be better positioned to compete tomorrow.”

Ban called for a substantial increase in funding for the green transition, saying developing countries often struggle to turn viable projects into reality because they lack affordable financing and the expertise to secure investment.

“Public finance, development finance institutions and private investors must work together to develop stronger project pipelines, create innovative financing instruments and forge partnerships that transform ideas into bankable investments,” he said.

Established in 2012 on the occasion of the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development, the GGGI helps countries pursue economic development while protecting the environment, reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion. The intergovernmental organization works with 55 member states and 30 partner countries and regional integration organizations, supporting projects in more than 57 countries.

GGGW opened in Seoul on Tuesday for a four-day run under the theme “Powering the race for green transformation: Technology, capital and global cooperation at scale.”

Thursday’s GGGW Summit, the week’s main high-level gathering, brought together participants including Ban, Korea’s Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il and Climate Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Zambian Green Economy and Environment Minister Gilbert Siame and EU Ambassador to Korea Ugo Astuto.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il delivers congratulatory remarks at the Global Green Growth Week Summit at the Westin Josun Seoul in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Finance and Economy

In his congratulatory remarks, Lee said Korea’s Green Transformation (K-GX) strategy aims to make the shift toward carbon neutrality a catalyst for economic growth and quality job creation.

“The transition to a low carbon economy and the development of new industries should also create new technologies, attract investment and generate quality jobs. This is the vision behind the K-GX strategy,” Lee said. “Our goal is to create a virtuous cycle that turns carbon neutrality into new drivers for growth.”

He also pledged to deepen cooperation with the GGGI to develop new forms of international collaboration that support both environmental protection and economic growth.

“In this regard, the Global Verified Carbon Market (GVCM) developed with the GGGI is a promising example,” Lee said. “The GVCM aims to convert emission reductions in developing countries into high-integrity carbon credits that can be used internationally. This will support emission reductions while mobilizing more private investment for climate action.”

The first plenary session, “Reinventing global cooperation in a fragmented world,” explored how governments, businesses, philanthropic organizations and international institutions could forge new partnerships to tackle shared challenges amid geopolitical tensions, rising economic nationalism and shifting supply chains.

Speaking at the session, Kim described the climate crisis as a fundamental challenge to coexistence between humanity and nature. Citing the recent disaster in Nepal, he highlighted how countries that have contributed relatively little to carbon emissions often suffer disproportionately from the effects of climate change.

Climate Minister Kim Sung-hwan delivers a special address during the first plenary session of the 2026 Global Green Growth Summit at the Westin Josun Seoul in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment

“I believe global challenges must be tackled collectively. The Earth will no longer wait for humanity,” Kim said. “If we are to avoid extinction like the dinosaurs, it is time to consider a stronger form of global democracy to address the climate crisis.”

Kim stressed that ending the fossil fuel era would require green technologies and industries to become more efficient and competitive than existing carbon-based systems. He said Korea would build on its manufacturing strengths, from steel to semiconductors, to pursue artificial intelligence (AI) transformation alongside green transformation and accelerate decarbonization across power generation, industry, transport and buildings.

The second plenary session, “Bankable is built by committed partnerships,” examined how the Korea Green New Deal Trust Fund helps partner countries develop and scale up green projects that can attract financing through cooperation with Korean institutions, private investors and multilateral development banks, including the Asian Development Bank.

The third plenary session, “Seeking a global green AI Partnership for a better world,” addressed surging electricity and water demand driven by AI expansion and explored ways to establish a Global Green AI Partnership to advance technological innovation while addressing its climate impact.

The fourth plenary session, the “Ban Ki-moon climate change high-level roundtable,” focused on turning climate commitments into joint action. Convened by the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, it highlighted closer cooperation and stronger climate governance among Korea, China and Japan as a way to support broader global efforts.

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周四，潘基文在首尔举行的全球绿色增长周峰会上敦促各国加快绿色转型，以支持长期增长和提升竞争力。他指出，技术创新、大规模资本调动和加强国际合作是实现承诺转化为可衡量成果的优先事项。潘基文表示，发展中国家需要负担得起的融资和投资专业知识来推进可行的项目。与会者还讨论了韩国的K-GX战略、绿色项目融资、人工智能的环境影响以及区域气候合作等议题。

全球绿色增长研究所与 55 个成员国和 30 个伙伴国家及区域一体化组织合作，支持 57 个以上国家的项目。

全球绿色增长周于周二在首尔开幕，为期四天，主题为“推动绿色转型竞赛：大规模的技术、资本和全球合作”。

韩国财政部长李亨日表示，韩国的K-GX战略旨在使碳中和成为经济增长和创造高质量就业机会的驱动力。

李将与全球绿色增长研究所 (GGGI) 共同开发的全球核证碳市场描述为一种将发展中国家的减排量转化为可供国际使用的高质量碳信用额度的方式。

韩国气候部长金成焕表示，韩国将利用其在钢铁和半导体领域的制造业优势，推进人工智能和绿色转型，并实现发电、工业、交通和建筑领域的脱碳。

发布于2026年10月29日下午4:33（韩国标准时间）

首尔财政部长称碳中和是创造高质量就业机会的途径。

全球绿色增长研究所（GGGI）所长兼理事长潘基文周四在首尔市中心威斯汀朝鲜酒店举行的全球绿色增长周峰会上致欢迎辞。（韩联社）

全球绿色增长研究所（GGGI）主席兼总裁潘基文周四敦促各国加快向绿色经济转型，以确保长期增长并增强其全球竞争力。

这位前联合国秘书长在“全球绿色增长周 (GGGW) 峰会”上发表讲话时指出，技术创新、大规模资本调动和加强国际合作是实现绿色转型承诺的三大优先事项，也是取得切实可衡量成果的关键。

潘基文在峰会开幕式致欢迎辞时表示：“绿色转型既是经济发展的必然选择，也是一项战略投资，更是创造绿色就业、加强能源安全、改善公众健康和建设更具韧性社会的契机。今天采取果断行动的国家，明天将更有利于参与竞争。”

潘基文呼吁大幅增加绿色转型资金，他表示，发展中国家往往难以将可行的项目变为现实，因为它们缺乏负担得起的融资和获得投资的专业知识。

他说：“公共财政、发展金融机构和私人投资者必须共同努力，建立更强大的项目储备，创造创新的融资工具，并建立伙伴关系，将想法转化为可行的投资。”

全球绿色增长研究所（GGGI）成立于2012年联合国可持续发展大会之际，旨在帮助各国在发展经济的同时保护环境、减少贫困并促进社会包容。该政府间组织与55个成员国和30个伙伴国家及区域一体化组织合作，支持57个国家的项目。

GGGW于周二在首尔开幕，为期四天，主题为“推动绿色转型竞赛：大规模的技术、资本和全球合作”。

周四举行的全球绿色增长与地球物理峰会是本周的主要高级别会议，与会者包括潘基文、韩国财政部长李亨日和气候部长金成焕、赞比亚绿色经济与环境部长吉尔伯特·西亚梅以及欧盟驻韩国大使乌戈·阿斯图托。

韩国财政部长李亨日周四在首尔市中心威斯汀朝鲜酒店举行的全球绿色增长周峰会上致贺词。图片由韩国财政经济部提供。

李在贺词中表示，韩国的绿色转型（K-GX）战略旨在使向碳中和的转变成为经济增长和创造高质量就业机会的催化剂。

李表示：“向低碳经济转型和新兴产业的发展也应催生新技术、吸引投资并创造高质量就业机会。这正是K-GX战略背后的愿景。我们的目标是打造良性循环，将碳中和转化为新的增长动力。”

他还承诺深化与全球绿色增长研究所的合作，以发展支持环境保护和经济增长的新型国际合作形式。

李表示：“在这方面，与全球绿色增长研究所（GGGI）共同开发的全球核证碳市场（GVCM）就是一个很有前途的例子。GVCM旨在将发展中国家的减排量转化为可在国际上使用的高质量碳信用额度。这既能支持减排，又能调动更多私人投资用于气候行动。”

第一次全体会议的主题是“在分裂的世界中重塑全球合作”，探讨了各国政府、企业、慈善组织和国际机构如何建立新的伙伴关系，以应对地缘政治紧张局势、经济民族主义抬头和供应链转移带来的共同挑战。

金在会上发言时指出，气候危机是对人类与自然共存的根本挑战。他以尼泊尔近期发生的灾难为例，强调了碳排放贡献相对较小的国家往往不成比例地遭受气候变化的影响。

韩国气候部长官金成焕周四在首尔市中心威斯汀朝鲜酒店举行的2026年全球绿色增长峰会第一次全体会议上发表特别讲话。图片由韩国气候、能源和环境部提供。

“我认为全球性挑战必须通过集体行动来应对。地球不会再等待人类了，”金说。“如果我们不想像恐龙一样灭绝，就应该考虑建立更强有力的全球民主机制来应对气候危机。”

金强调，要终结化石燃料时代，绿色技术和产业必须比现有的碳基系统更加高效、更具竞争力。他表示，韩国将发挥其从钢铁到半导体等制造业优势，在推进绿色转型的同时，积极推进人工智能转型，并加速电力、工业、交通和建筑等领域的脱碳进程。

第二场全体会议“建立在坚定伙伴关系之上”探讨了韩国绿色新政信托基金如何帮助伙伴国家发展和扩大绿色项目，并通过与韩国机构、私人投资者和包括亚洲开发银行在内的多边开发银行合作来吸引融资。

第三场全体会议“寻求建立全球绿色人工智能伙伴关系，共创美好世界”探讨了人工智能发展带来的电力和水资源需求激增问题，并探索了建立全球绿色人工智能伙伴关系的途径，以推进技术创新，同时应对其对气候的影响。

第四次全体会议“潘基文气候变化高级别圆桌会议”重点讨论了如何将气候承诺转化为共同行动。此次会议由潘基文美好未来基金会召集，强调韩国、中国和日本应加强合作，完善气候治理，以此支持更广泛的全球应对气候变化努力。

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