IFEZ Journal

Meet International Organizations in IFEZ <ESCAP>

UNESCAP (the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) is a United Nations body established to promote economic and social development across the Asia-Pacific region. Ganbold Baasanjav, Head of the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia, which serves six member States—China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, and the Russian Federation—said that “despite the painful history shared among countries in North-East Asia, the six nations possess a strong sense of solidarity for future generations,” adding that “they are working together to identify common challenges and develop solutions for the future.”

Shin Yong-suk, Special Adviser for International Cooperation at the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA), met with Ganbold Baasanjav at G-Tower in Songdo International City to discuss air pollution issues and the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC).

Shin Yong-suk

Special Adviser for International Cooperation Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA)

Ganbold Baasanjav

Head of the UNESCAP East and North-East Asia Office

Shin Yong-suk  I understand that you previously served as Mongolia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Could you tell us about your diplomatic career?

Ganbold Baasanjav  From 1982 to 1988, I studied the Korean language at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Afterward, I worked at Mongolian embassies in Pyongyang and Hanoi. Starting in 2013, I served for five years as Mongolia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Since 2019, I have been serving as Head of the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia.

Shin Yong-suk  You speak Korean fluently and with remarkable command of standard Korean.

Ganbold Baasanjav   I have studied Korean diligently since my university days in Moscow. I spent more than ten years working in both Pyongyang and Seoul, and now I am based in Incheon. Altogether, I have lived in Korean-speaking environments for nearly fifteen years. It also helps that Mongolian and Korean belong to the same Ural-Altaic language family.

Shin Yong-suk  What led to the establishment of the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia in Incheon?

Ganbold Baasanjav  The establishment of the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia in Incheon was driven by a strategic mandate to strengthen the UN’s institutional presence and address the unique development needs of this economically dynamic yet geopolitically complex subregion.

The selection of Incheon was supported by the Republic of Korea’s strong commitment to multilateralism, as well as its provision of world-class infrastructure and financial support. Incheon offers excellent global connectivity, proximity to major cities across North-East Asia, and a safe, modern environment, making it an ideal platform for international cooperation and dialogue.

In addition, the Office benefits from functional synergies with various UN agencies and international organizations located in Songdo. This enables us to maximize the impact of regional cooperation and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda more effectively.

Shin Yong-suk  Air pollution remains a serious issue in North-East Asia. In Korea, there is particular concern about transboundary air pollution. Is the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia working on measures to address this challenge?

Ganbold Baasanjav  Promoting clean air remains a critical challenge not only in North-East Asia but across the Asia-Pacific region. Approximately 92 percent of the region’s population—around four billion people—is exposed to air pollution levels that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.At the same time, there have been encouraging signs of progress. Air quality in North-East Asia has improved significantly over the past decade. The region has made notable gains in reducing key pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5), largely due to increasingly robust policy and regulatory frameworks that target emissions from the industrial, transportation, and residential sectors.

Of course, air quality management remains a complex issue, particularly because of the transboundary nature of pollution. In this context, regional cooperation and the sharing of information and experiences play a crucial role. Our Office works closely with the six member States through the North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP). By linking scientific research with policy dialogue, NEACAP promotes science-based policy cooperation and helps develop collaborative approaches to air quality management across North-East Asia.

Shin Yong-suk  What would you consider the most significant achievements of the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC)?

Ganbold Baasanjav  NEASPEC is the only comprehensive intergovernmental mechanism for environmental cooperation in North-East Asia. For more than 30 years, it has served as a unique UN-supported platform for regional environmental collaboration.

What is particularly significant is that NEASPEC has continuously evolved to address the region’s most pressing and emerging environmental challenges. Today, its work spans a broad range of issues, including air pollution, biodiversity and nature conservation, desertification and land degradation, marine protected areas, and low-carbon city development. Through this platform, member States have exchanged experiences, strengthened policy dialogue, and promoted practical cooperation on transboundary environmental issues that no single country can solve alone. NEASPEC has also played an important role in maintaining dialogue and building trust among countries despite complex geopolitical circumstances.

Shin Yong-suk  I understand that a meeting of implementing partners on the conservation of habitat connectivity for major migratory birds in North-East Asia was held last year. Does ESCAP cooperate with the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), which is also based in Incheon?

Ganbold Baasanjav  Yes. ESCAP has worked closely with EAAFP primarily through NEASPEC’s Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Programme. Since 2007, NEASPEC has supported three flagship migratory bird species designated by member States: the Hooded Crane, White-naped Crane, and Black-faced Spoonbill. These species are ecologically significant and depend on habitat connectivity that extends across national borders.

In this context, ESCAP has actively cooperated with EAAFP and other partners to promote regional collaboration on migratory bird conservation and habitat protection throughout North-East Asia.

Shin Yong-suk  Are China and Japan actively involved in ESCAP’s activities in North-East Asia?

Ganbold Baasanjav  China regularly convenes expert meetings on environmental issues and regional connectivity among member States. We also work closely with Japan on environmental initiatives, including international forums on carbon neutrality. However, it is unfortunate that recent diplomatic tensions between China and Japan have somewhat limited participation by senior government officials.

Shin Yong-suk  How would you describe your cooperation with Incheon Metropolitan City?

Ganbold Baasanjav  Together with Incheon, we continue to organize the International Forum on Low-Carbon Cities in major cities across member States. We have also been sharing the experience accumulated over the past decade with countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Shin Yong-suk  International conferences on combating desertification are held regularly, and Korean civic groups have been carrying out tree-planting campaigns in Mongolia for decades. Have these efforts produced tangible results?

Ganbold Baasanjav  Although tree-planting initiatives continue to receive support from Korea and many other countries, achieving visible results remains challenging due to climate change and the growing livestock population. Grazing goats often consume plants down to their roots, causing significant damage. In addition, ownership and management responsibilities after planting are not always clearly defined, making long-term maintenance difficult.

Shin Yong-suk  Thank you for taking the time to share the valuable work of the ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia.