Fellow Koreans,

I find it incredibly meaningful to commemorate the first United Nations-designated International Day of Clean Air for blue skies today. It is the first UN international day initiated by the Republic of Korea and subsequently adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly last year.

In the face of infectious diseases and natural disasters, the world is contemplating the climate and environment more deeply than ever before. In order to save our planet, we are starting from small things and expanding international cooperation.

Today, New York, Bangkok, Nairobi and many parts of the globe are coming together to commemorate the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. It is part of our efforts to jointly seek collective action of humanity that we chose to begin today's event at 6:30 pm - the time the sun sets in Korea and rises on the other side of the world. Starting with today's inaugural ceremony, I hope the world will further strengthen cooperation for the restoration of the climate and the environment.

Living in the year 2020 where the world is in the midst of unprecedented difficulties caused by COVID-19 and natural disasters such as heatwaves and floods, I hope that collective efforts of humanity will go beyond tackling fine dust and extend to addressing more fundamental issues of the climate crisis.

This summer, following a record-long rainy season, three typhoons have swept over the Korean Peninsula one after another a few days apart. Their high winds and heavy rains have left immense damage along their paths. Yet another typhoon has necessitated replacing the event planned for today with this video message. I find it unfortunate not being able to celebrate today with many people at a meaningful venue, but my wish for blue skies remains with you all. I would like to extend my sympathy to those who have been afflicted by natural disasters and give my word that we will do everything possible to help with damage recovery and that we will employ more proactive measures to respond to the climate crisis by taking today as yet another lesson.

Read the full statement here.