Statement by H.E. Cho Tae-yul
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
P4G High-Level Plenary Session
Sustainable and People-Centered Green Transition
Ha Noi, April 16, 2025 (3-4 min)

Your Excellency Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (팜밍찡),
Excellencies, 
Distinguished Guests,

First, let me extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for his extraordinary leadership, vision, and tireless dedication in hosting this critical summit.

Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, the planet is speaking clearly, and its message is urgent.

Last year, our Earth's average temperature crossed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time.

Its wake-up call is echoed in the record number of people displaced by extreme weather events that same year, including the Typhoon Yagi which struck Vietnam last fall.

But even in these challenging times, we must remember hope; for human history has always been the record of human ingenuity that shone at the darkest hours.

That is the spirit at the very heart of the P4G initiative – a belief that with innovation, we can let sustainability write our future.

This belief is being brought to life through the stories of innovation sparked by P4G partnerships.

Picture this: a consortium of Korean and Vietnamese innovators reimagining what used cooking oil can become.

Together, they are laying the groundwork for sustainable aviation fuel – sourced not from fossil fuels, but from leftovers of daily life like cooking oil – by using smart IT technology.  

Travel farther into the lush landscapes of northern Vietnam, you will find Korean entrepreneurs working side-by-side with small-scale farmers.

Together, they are piloting a smart farming initiative – one that uses real-time technology to cut water use by up to 90% and increase productivity by 300% in strawberry cultivation.

Their quiet innovation strengthens resilience and sustainability of farmers who are often the most vulnerable against climate change.

P4G has nurtured around 120 such stories since 2018, investing 44 million dollars into partnerships spanning focus areas from food to climate-smart agriculture to water.  

Through the years, we have backed start-ups and early-stage entrepreneurs not because every idea will succeed.

Indeed, some will stumble -- and some have humble beginnings.

But every attempt brings us closer to discovering the breakthroughs that our ailing planet urgently needs.

This is why we must double down on our efforts.

And to do so requires turning inclusiveness and solidarity from mere catch phrases into concrete action that meets today's challenges.

P4G's core philosophy has always been: a green transition by all and for all.

In this context, P4G's signature National Platforms should be strengthened as a vital link amongst various stakeholders within member states.

Alongside, we urgently need efforts to diversify climate finance, channeling investment from public funds, national banks, private capital, and philanthropy to address persistent gaps in resource mobilization.

In addition, I stress that we must champion the engagement of youths – those with the greatest stake in the future of our planet.

This is why the Korean government spearheaded Global Youth Climate Challenges which have inspired a number of young leaders since the 2nd P4G Summit in Seoul.

Last but not least, we need the unwavering support of the P4G members, this tight-knit community which has exemplified global solidarity, connecting developed and developing countries, governments and private sectors across borders.

As a proud contributor and the host of the 2nd P4G Summit in Seoul in 2021, the Republic of Korea, for its part, reaffirms its deep commitment to P4G, pledging around $1.8 million this year to further its essential work.

And thanks to the tremendous leadership of our 4th host, Vietnam, we are proud to reaffirm our shared commitment through the Ha Noi Declaration.

We stand united sending a powerful message to the world that together, we can – and must -- build a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.

Thank you. /END/