Departing Cho Myung-rae: "Hoping to Pave the Way for Carbon Neutrality as the Foundation for the Next 30 Years"

Farewell Address by Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae. (File photo)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae urged on the 22nd, "We face the task of laying the foundation for the next 30 years of carbon neutrality."

On this day, Minister Cho said in his farewell address, "The mission that the Ministry of Environment has borne this year is not light."

Appointed as the 18th Minister of Environment in November 2018, Minister Cho led the Ministry for about 800 days. During this time, he established a comprehensive response system to fine dust, including the enactment and revision of eight fine dust-related laws and the introduction of a seasonal management system, achieving results such as reducing fine dust concentration to 19㎍/㎥ last year. He also worked to resolve issues threatening public health, such as relief for victims of humidifier disinfectants, expanding the support targets and amounts more than 15 times.

Additionally, he passed the amendment to the Government Organization Act transferring river management to the Ministry of Environment, completing the integration of water management, and finalized the treatment plan for the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs at the National Water Management Committee, contributing to the restoration of the natural state of the Four Major Rivers.

Minister Cho said, "Above all, setting the keyword of the Ministry of Environment’s 2020 work plan as 'Green Transition,' reporting the green industry innovation strategy to the President, and including the 'Green New Deal' as a pillar of the Korean New Deal are the most memorable achievements," adding, "I am honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to the beginning of the great economic and social transformation from the Green New Deal to the 2050 carbon neutrality declaration."

Minister Cho plans to return to Dankook University, where he worked before his appointment. He said, "As of today, I step down from the position of Minister of Environment and return as a citizen and scholar," and expressed his deep gratitude to all executives and staff who worked diligently.