With “water and sanitation” on the agenda during the three-day schedule, it is the first ministerial-level UN environment conference to be held at an Asian country. Environment ministers from 102 countries, government representatives of 158 countries, delegates from 50 international organizations and 100 representatives of private environmental organization are attending this year’s council.

Acting President Goh Kun shakes hands with former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto at the 8th Special Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at Jeju International Convention Center, Monday.

In his welcoming speech, Goh Kun, Korea’s acting president said, “The importance of the environment as a measure of the competitiveness and quality of life of a nation is growing. Since the benefits and harm to the environment are not limited to a single area, countries should deal with environmental issues together.”

UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer, former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Iranian Vice President Massoumeh Ebtekar, and other well-known environmental figures are participating in the conference. Jeju City is being transformed into a site of global environmental diplomacy.

Items on the agenda include execution plans on water, sanitation and human settlement issues, increasing the share of expenses of member countries to strengthen the UNEP’s role, and installation of a special organization to monitor the global environment.

Along with the special session, an International Seminar of Women Environment Ministers will highlight women and sanitation. Rising sea levels that threaten small island nations and the yellow dust storms from China that are a major environmental concern in the Northeast Asian region will also be discussed.

For citizens, there will be a “Clean Jeju” photo exhibition, a showcase of environmentally friendly products, and information on environmental policies.

Meanwhile, the UNEP warned in its 2003 GEO Report that, “The oceans worldwide are being polluted by fertilizers, smog from vehicles and factories, and fish are dying in 150 dead zones -- areas that have run out of oxygen.” The report predicts that these dead zones will threaten the world’s fish population and thus impact the livelihoods of fishermen.

(Kim Dong-seop, dskim@chosun.com )