President Moon Proposed 'Blue Sky Day'... Commemoration Event to Be Held on September 7 at Nodeul Island

Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hold Expert Policy Meeting
Discuss Event Promotion Plans and Air Quality Policy Directions
Jomyeongrae: "Will Use as an Opportunity to Strengthen International Cooperation"

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Ahead of the 'Blue Sky Day (September 7)' proposed by President Moon Jae-in to the international community, the government and the private sector gathered to discuss plans for the event.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an expert policy meeting on the 14th at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, to discuss the hosting plan for the first 'Blue Sky Day' event.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae, Climate Change Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yoo Yeon-cheol, Secretary General of the National Climate and Environment Council Kim Beop-jeong, as well as experts from industry, academia, media, and civil society.

The participants discussed the plan to promote the Blue Sky Day event, which will be held for the first time on September 7, and the future direction of the government's air quality policies.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the first commemorative event for Blue Sky Day will be held at Nodeul Island in Seoul on that day.

Blue Sky Day is significant as it is the first official UN commemorative day designated through a proposal by South Korea, representing an achievement made together by the public and the government.

This commemorative day originated from ideas contributed by ordinary citizens participating in the National Climate and Environment Council’s public policy participation group in August last year. Based on this, President Moon proposed the designation of the 'International Day of Blue Skies' to the international community at the UN Climate Action Summit in September of the same year.

Subsequently, in December of the same year, the 74th UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating September 7 each year as the 'International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.'

In August this year, the Cabinet meeting approved and deliberated on a partial amendment to the 'Regulations on Various Commemorative Days,' designating it not only as a UN commemorative day but also as a national commemorative day.

Minister Cho stated, "Although the air quality, including fine dust levels, has recently improved significantly, complacency is not allowed," adding, "We will use the designation of Blue Sky Day as an opportunity to fundamentally resolve domestic air pollution issues and strengthen international cooperation."