Statement by Mr. Ban Ki-moon on passing of Mr. Kofi Annan, the 7th Secretary General of the United Nations

August 18, 2018

Having heard with a great shock and deepest sorrow, my wife and I join the world´s people and all the colleagues of the United Nations system in extending our deepest condolences to Mrs. Annan and his bereaved family on the untimely passing of Mr. Kofi Annan, my predecessor Secretary General of the United Nations I also convey the same to the government and the people of Ghana.

For the last 15 years, I have had closely worked with Secretary General Kofi Annan for peace, development and human rights for all the people around the world. After retirement from the United Nations, Mr. Annan has been most energetic in the sublime works of realizing the goals of the United Nations, and has been leading The Elders Group where I had been honoured to work with him since 2017.

During and after his life-long service with the United Nations, he has been astutely guiding the United Nations organization into the 21st century defining an ambitious agenda that had made the UN truly indispensable to peace, prosperity and human dignity around the world.

He will always be admired and remembered for his vision and courage in upholding the United Nations principles and ideals.

May his soul rest in peace and eternity,

Ban Ki-moon
8th Secretary General of the United Nations

Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon Joins the Advisory Board of the Netpreneur Prize to Support African Entrepreneurs

August 9, 2018

Jack Ma, the founder and the executive chairman of Alibaba Group, established Jack Ma Foundation Netpreneur Prize to support businesses in digital economy by funding entrepreneurs in Africa. The prize will focus on internet-led businesses that help advance technology and innovation in Africa. The entrepreneurs will get a million USD per year for 10 years through competitions.

The Ban Ki-moon Centre’s Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon was named to the advisory board of the Netpreneur Prize. Ban expressed his excitement to join the advisory board through a video message and said,

“we aim to support African entrepreneurs to build a more inclusive and prosperous Africa and dramatically shape the future prospects of the continent for the better.”

“All young Africans should seize the opportunity to aim high,” Ban urged to the African youth, especially women, “put your best foot forward and I look forward to your application to the African Netpreneur Prize.” Ban sees that the empowerment of youth and women and the development of the global digital economy in Africa will make the continent become the leader of the next century.

For more information: http://netpreneur.africa/
Photo & Source: https://www.alizila.com/jack-ma-10-million-african-entrepreneurs-prize/

Co-chairman Ban Appointed as Honorable Chairman of the Special Music & Art Festival

August 8, 2018

The Special Music & Art Festival 2018 organized by Special Olympics Korea kicked off on August 7th in Korea, attracting 130 artists from all over the world, who have developmental disabilities. The Ban Ki-moon Centre’s Co-chair Ban Ki-moon was appointed as Honorable Chairman of the festival.

At the inaugural ceremony, Honorable Chairman Ban said that he sees how valuable it is to give help where it is needed through the festival and that he will deeply ponder what to do in order to make the festival accessible so that many more artists with developmental disabilities can participate.

The festival aims

  • to make an international hub of cultural exchange between musicians with developmental disabilities;
  • to bring confidence to performers by providing them with music lessons;
  • to encourage and support participants from developing countries so that the spirit of Special Olympics can be spread out;
  • to bring up mutual understandings between the participants with and without disabilities.

This year, the 5-day festival consists of music lessons, mini-Special Olympics, and various forms of concerts, including an open-stage concert for anyone who wants to perform.

 

For more info: http://specialmusicfestival.com/2018/index_eng.html

Honorary President of Korea Scout Association Ban Urges Supports for the Youth at the International Patrol Jamboree Held in Korea

August 7, 2018

“The life of our youth is never easy. Only when they can stretch their shoulders and pleasantly and freely spread their dream, our country can become a young country forever.”

Co-chairman Ban, also the Honorary President of Korea Scout Association, delivered a speech to the youth from all around the world at the opening ceremony of the 5th International Patrol Jamboree held in Gosung, Korea on August 2-7 in 2018.

With the theme “Unified Dream,” the International Patrol Jamboree hosted around 6,500 international students and leaders from 45 countries. During the 6 days of the international jamboree, young global leaders camped together, exchanged different cultures, and built up their adventurous spirit.

The jamboree was held in celebration of Korea hosting the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum where around 50,000 participants from 160 countries will join in 2023. Announcing the news, Honorary President of Korea Scout Association Ban discussed measures to host the World Scout Jamboree and urged more supports for the Scout activities of the youth.

Ban Ki-moon Centre CEO Features at FIA Mobility Conference in Uruguay

July 27, 2018

On July 25th, Ban Ki-moon Centre CEO Monika Froehler featured on a high-level panel at the 2018 FIA Mobility Conference held in Montevideo, Uruguay. She joined Felipe Calderón, President of the FIA Environment and Sustainability Commission; Pablo Inthamousso, Mobility Director for Montevideo City; Roberto Falkenstein, Head of Research and Development for Pirelli Tyres; and Sean O’Connor, Director of Strategy for Automobile and Touring Club of United Arab Emirates.

Froehler pointed out that, “Sustainable mobility is necessary to enable the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. FIA is already a Road Safety champion by supporting SDG 3 and SDG 11 on health and sustainable cities and communities with its #3500 lives campaign.” During the panel, Froehler further explained that sustainable mobility, “affects all of us on an individual to global level” and that “75 per cent of people will live in urban centres by 2050, so if we get the city level right now, we’ll be a very long way towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

One of the primary themes in the discussion was the necessity to effectively communicate about sustainability policy. Froehler added:

“We need to adopt systems that adapt to new technology, and the young need to be educated about this. Half of the world is under the age of 25, and that proportion is set to increase. It will be their demands that drive the economy, but we need to pave the way now to ensure we can succeed in a future that has to be environmentally friendly.”

 

Source: https://www.fia.com/multimedia/publication/2018-fia-mobility-conference-newsletter-1
For more information on the conference: https://www.fia.com/2018-fia-mobility-conference
Photo: FIA

Ban suggests adopting the “Negative Regulation System” for sustainable future at the 2018 FKI CEO Summer Forum

July 26, 2018

The Centre’s Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon gave a speech at the 2018 FKI CEO Summer Forum on the topic of sustainable future that Korean corporations will make. The forum is annually organized by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and is a knowledge-share platform for the CEOs in every sector and industry in Korea. This year, the forum was held in Jeju with a theme “Create New Opportunities, Create New Future.”

Ban emphasized the necessity of adopting “Negative Regulation System” that allows everything possible except what is impossible in order to prepare for the 4th industrial revolution. Through the system, he urged to maximize human creativity. Regarding the possible economic cooperation between two Koreas, Ban expressed hope for the leap of Korean corporations in utilization of unlimited potential growth of North Korean economy on the basis of “trust but verify” attitude.

Photo: FKI
Source: http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/news_detail.asp?newsId=03834326619275832&mediaCodeNo=257&OutLnkChk=Y

Ban gives opening remarks at the Carbon Market Forum 2018

July 24, 2018

As the President and the Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Centre’s Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon gave opening and welcoming remarks at the Carbon Market Forum 2018 held in Seoul, Korea on July 24th. The forum was hosted by Coalition for Our Common Future and Korea Environment Corporation in partnership with the GGGI and KAIST Sustainable Development Center. With a theme on Korea’s Carbon Market & COP 24 Strategy, Ban shared his expectation that Korea and the international community better cope with the climate change.

During the forum, A.J. Meyer Professor Robert N. Stavins of Energy and Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School gave a keynote. As he is also the Director of Harvard Environmental Economics Program and the Director of Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, Professor Stavins raised a question whether the Paris Agreement can be the solution and shared his insights on the key tasks of the COP 24. Presentations and panel discussions were followed on the topics of the greenhouse gas emission reduction, Korea’s strategy for COP 24, coal power plant and energy transition, micro climate action, etc..

Photo: E News Today

Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon Holds Talks with Sri Lanka on Sustainable Development

July 19, 2018

Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment of Sri Lanka, Anura Dissanayake met Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon at the Ban Ki-moon Center for Sustainable Development, Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. Independent Consultant Chris Dharmakirti from the Ministry, Ambassador Manisha Gunasekera from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Seoul, and Deputy Director General of GGGI, Ambassador Jenny Kim also participated in the meeting.

The meeting entailed discussion on Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development and to finance mobilization for climate resilient projects. The Sri Lankan government officials sought for cooperation with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) of which Co-chairman Ban is the President and Chair. Ban commended the Blue Green Development Strategy initiated by President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka.

Source & Photo: Sri Lankan Embassy in Seoul
http://www.slembassykorea.com/eng/bbs/board.php?bo_table=s1_2&wr_id=78

Ban Ki-moon Urges Global Citizens to Act Proactively for the Climate Issues at the SIWW Water Dialogue

July 11, 2018

During the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), Ban Ki-moon gave a keynote address as a distinguished guest to open the Water Dialogue session. The session was part of the Water Leaders Summit on the topic of “Create: Solutions for our Future” and saught to share insights, trends, and solutions concerning water management and sanitation.

Ban emphasized the importance of the water issues and working together to combat climate change, stating that at least 2 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water. He reminded the attendees that “we are all global citizens” and that we have to proactively take actions for the climate issues that are global issues.

During the SIWW, Ban also mentioned about the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in an interview with CNBC:

“Now with the United States pulling from this Paris agreement, I’m concerned now how to mobilize the necessary financial support for many developing countries who do not have the capacity to address this climate change issues. They do not have any responsibilities historically speaking. Therefore it is absolute necessary that the international community uses its political will to work on this matter.”

Source: https://www.siww.com.sg/
Source & Photo: https://www.facebook.com/siww.com.sg
Interview: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/10/i-sincerely-hope-that-the-us-will-come-back-says-ban-ki-moon.html

Ban Ki-moon Urged the Implementation of LDN at the First Global Land Neutrality Degradation Forum

July 9, 2018

Ban Ki-moon Centre’s Co-chairman Ban Ki-moon, who is also the Assembly President and Council Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), urged global efforts on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and support for the Peace Forest Initiative at the first Global LDN Forum.

This two-day forum was co-hosted by the Korea Forest Service (KFS) and the UNCCD in Seoul, Korea, having the attendance of more than 200 participants from both the public and the private sector as well as international organizations, NGOs, and academia.

LDN is defined as “a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remain stable or increase within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems” by the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The gathered participants and the entities took the opportunity to discuss experiences and ideas on how the international community can cooperate and best practice the implementation of LDN.

Ban said, “With growing pressures on our lands, we – as both the caretakers and offenders of our planet – need to prevent future losses in social, natural and economic capital through the development and implementation of land degradation neutrality.”

During the forum, a high-level inter-Korean dialogue also took place, which was to call for cooperation for implementing the Peace Forest Initiative with North Korea.

“Just a short drive due north from here, there exists one of the gravest environmental situations,” said Ban. He shared his hope that “based on KFS’ successful experiences on the forestry sector, GGGI, UNCCD, and other international partners can play a key role in supporting the momentum.”

 

Source:
GGGI – http://gggi.org/gggis-assembly-president-and-council-chair-ban-ki-moon-urges-global-efforts-on-land-degradation-neutrality-and-supports-the-inter-korean-peace-forest-initiative/
UNCCD – https://www.unccd.int/actions/achieving-land-degradation-neutrality

Photo: Korea Forest Service