Holding Climate Protection Week two years in a row Launching Green Forum Experiencing Earth Day Yeosu, the host city of 2012 International Exposition, has set its vision to become an international model city for climate protection. As part of the effort to realize the vision, the city held 'Climate Protection Week Yeosu 2009'. The environmental event was held as a joint project of public and private sectors from April 20 to April 25 in Geobuksun Park, Hyeungguk Gymnasium, Jeonnam University and on the main road. The Climate Protection Week Yeosu 2009 started with the opening ceremony amid the presence of 700 Yeosu citizens in a conference room of Yeosu City Hall on April 20. In his speech, Mayor Oh Hyun-sup said that "Yeosu City is the first municipal government in Korea to have a Climate Protection Week, and this year marks the second anniversary. We started this green week to seriously discuss climate change, one of the greatest global challenges, and to find solutions to it." In particular, Mr. Oh emphasized that "Our city is making every effort to hold Environment Earth Summit in order to deliver a stronger message to the world than that of Kyoto Protocol through Yeosu Declaration. We already embarked on "Yeosu Project", which assists developing countries coping with climate change." The event invited Mr. Stefanos Fotiou from UNEP and Mr. Lorenzo Santucci from UNESCAP to provide in-depth knowledge on climate change and sustainable development, and seek cooperation with the United Nations. The launching ceremony of Green Forum was held in the afternoon at Jeonnam University Industry Cooperation Center with the attendance of Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Jeollnam-do and the head of Jeonnam Regional Environmental Technology Development Center. Following the opening ceremony, International Symposium on Climate Change convened at International Seminar Room of Jeonnam University. The symposium was aimed to enhance Yeosu's status as an international model city for climate protection and to hold Environment Earth Summit in Yeosu as well as supporting Yeosu Project and Declaration. 300 experts in relevant fields attended to discuss the themes of the symposium which were "Strategies to Respond to Cimate Change through 2012 Exposition, and Green Growth and Carbon Emission Trading". In addition to the symposium, various programs and special events were held in the presentation room and each pavilion.