Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of the Environment of Canada and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Concerning Cooperation on Climate Change

The Department of the Environment of Canada and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, hereinafter referred to as the “Participants”;

CONSIDERING that climate change and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind that require urgent and collective action;

REAFFIRMING that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the “Convention”), signed at New York on 9 May 1992, lays a firm foundation for international efforts to combat climate change, and that the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention, as last amended on 8 December 2012, has been instrumental in implementing the Convention;

EMPHASIZING the importance of the implementation of the Paris Agreement, adopted on 12 December 2015, which will play a central role in guiding the Participants’ cooperative efforts to effectively address the challenges of climate change during the post-2020 period;

RECOGNIZING that both Canada and the Republic of Korea are experiencing more frequent extreme weather events, such as wildfires, stronger storms, and droughts, as well as experiencing increasing social and economic losses from the current and future impacts of climate change, and that urgent action is needed to adapt and build resilience;

RECALLING that Canada and the Republic of Korea upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, encompassing the priorities of addressing climate change and the environment, supporting energy security, and developing sustainable energy sources, as well as enhancing bilateral cooperation on climate change by launching Canada-the Republic of Korea Climate Change Dialogue (the “Dialogue”), in 2022, followed by the Leaders’ Joint Statement of May 17, 2023 committing to address the triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution;

COMPLEMENTING the strong ongoing collaboration between the Department of the Environment of Canada and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea under the Environmental Advisory Council of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Korea, done at Ottawa on 22 September, 2014, on a wide range of issues, such as emissions trading schemes, carbon pricing, zero emission vehicles, and plastics pollution; and

DESIRING to strengthen multi-dimensional cooperation and consultation in various areas to actively explore and implement cooperative projects that are effective and practical to address climate change, including mitigation, adaptation, and the climate-biodiversity nexus, and noting the importance of the implementation of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework;

HAVE REACHED the following understanding:

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is to:

1. (i) strengthen bilateral dialogue and cooperation regarding national policies and measures, as well as international negotiations on climate change;
2. (ii) promote joint cooperative activities to combat climate change;
3. (iii) manage climate disasters and contribute to the transformation towards low carbon and climate resilient economies; and
4. (iv) build a mutually beneficial and comprehensive partnership through cooperative activities to be jointly decided upon by the Participants.

2. AREAS OF COOPERATION

The Participants will collaborate in the following areas:

1. (i) international negotiations and cooperation on the full and effective implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement;
2. (ii) exchanges on policies and measures for addressing climate change and promoting the transition to green and low-carbon economies, including:
   1. (a) carbon neutrality policies and plans;
   2. (b) greenhouse gas emissions mitigation policies, including the two countries’ respective plans on regulations to reduce methane emissions;
   3. (c) national strategies and local governments’ policies on adaptation to climate change;
   4. (d) market mechanisms and emissions trading schemes;
   5. (e) policies on the circular economy;
   6. (f) climate-related science and low-carbon technologies; and
   7. (g) implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to put nature on a path to recovery by 2050; and
3. (iii) other areas to facilitate climate actions, such as climate disaster management, as jointly decided upon by the Participants.

3. COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES

The Participants understand that cooperative activities in the areas set out in Paragraph 2 of this MOU may include the following:

1. (i) exchange of data, information, technologies, know-how, and materials related to climate change and response policies and measures;
2. (ii) exchange of views and the promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation on national regulations and policies and international instruments to address climate change and achieve a low carbon economy;
3. (iii) organization of seminars, symposia, workshops, and meetings on climate change and response policies and measures;
4. (iv) exchange of climate change experts, researchers, scholars, and government officials;
5. (v) implementation of joint research and cooperative projects in the areas set out in Paragraph 2 of this MOU;
6. (vi) engagement and outreach to multi-stakeholders; and
7. (vii) any other areas of cooperation as jointly decided upon by the Participants.

4. CLIMATE CHANGE DIALOGUE

1. (i) To facilitate and coordinate the application of this MOU and the broader goals of the Participants related to climate change, the Participants will hold the Dialogue, co-chaired by their respective Ambassadors for Climate Change or, alternatively, representatives designated by each Participant.
2. (ii) The Dialogue will be held in principle once a year at a place and date to be jointly decided upon by the Participants. The Dialogue may also be held virtually by joint decision of the Participants. The intervals between these annual Dialogues will not exceed one year, but may be adjusted by mutual consent of the Participants.
3. (iii) The Dialogue will serve to perform the following functions:
   1. (a) promote policy exchange and pragmatic cooperation under this MOU;
   2. (b) monitor and review the progress of the application of this MOU, including relevant cooperative activities; and
   3. (c) discuss and jointly decide upon, where appropriate, any other matters relating to the application of this MOU.

5. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Participants will bear their own expenses incurred in applying this MOU, unless otherwise mutually determined.

6. RESOLUTION OF DIFFERENCES

Any differences arising from the interpretation or application of this MOU will be resolved through consultations between the Participants.

7. STATUS

1. (i) This MOU is not intended to create any legally binding rights or obligations.
2. (ii) This MOU will be carried out in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of the two countries and subject to the availability of appropriated funds and human resources of the Participants.

8. FINAL DISPOSITIONS

1. (i) This MOU will come into effect on the date of the last signature by the Participants and will remain in effect for a period of five (5) years.
2. (ii) This MOU may be amended by mutual written consent of the Participants.
3. (iii) This MOU will be extended automatically for successive five-year periods, unless either Participant notifies the other of its intention to terminate this MOU, at least six (6) months before the date of its expiration.
4. (iv) Either Participant may terminate this MOU at any time, upon three (3) months’ written notice to the other Participant.
5. (v) The expiration or termination of this MOU will not affect the completion of any ongoing cooperative activities under this MOU, unless otherwise jointly decided by the Participants.
6. (vi) Any matter that has not been included in this MOU will be determined through mutual consultation between the Participants.

Signed in duplicate at Dubai, on December 3, 2023, in the English, French, and Korean languages, each version being equally valid.