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South Korea will establish a new think tank that oversees the country's "green
growth" drive aimed at seeking economic growth by boosting environment-friendly
technologies and industries, a presidential committee said Thursday.
The "Green Technology Center," set to launch in March, will coordinate and
support green growth policies of related ministries and agencies and help boost
cooperation between research centers home and abroad, the Presidential Committee
on Green Growth said.
The committee was to report the center's
establishment to President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday.
A task force
comprising the top researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology
(KIST), the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the
Korea Institute of Energy Research has been working on the establishment, it
said.
The move underscores South Korea's commitment to green growth,
one of President Lee's trademark policies. It calls for lessening South Korea's
dependence on fossil fuels and promoting the development of alternative energy
sources, such as solar and wind power, and other technologies that increase
energy efficiency.
Lee believes the strategy will provide South Korea
with fresh growth engines for its economy and help the country -- one of the
world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters -- reduce its emission of carbon dioxide
and other heat-trapping gases amid growing calls to curb global
warming.
The committee said South Korea has made major progress in its
efforts to catch up with developed countries with advanced green technologies
thanks in large part to the sharp increase in the country's investment in
research and development.
The R&D budget rose to 3 trillion won
this year from 2 trillion won in 2009.
South Korea's "green
technology" levels in 27 key areas are now 77.7 percent those of advanced
nations, compared with 50.9 percent in 2009, the committee said. The number of
areas where South Korea has technology levels at least 80 percent of those of
advanced nations also rose to five from just one in 2009, it said.
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