Event United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP10)
Organiser UNCCD and the Coex convention team
Location Changwon Convention Center
Delegates 6,000 delegates from 161 countries
Date October 10-21

The brief
The UNCCD COP10 is an international environmental conference that addresses problems of desertification, land degradation and drought in drylands. Delegates from 161 countries gathered at the idyllic city of Changwon in Korea, the first time that UNCCD COP10 took place in Asia.

The PCO team of Coex Convention Center in Seoul, Korea’s top MICE venue and organiser, was chosen for the UN’s big event. The schedule and security protocol was handled by the United Nations event secretariat, while Coex’s in-house convention team was the PCO for the complex event, handling transportation, hotels, registration, construction of the conference hall, and more.

Challenges
The total of 6,000 visitors over two weeks, coupled with the fact that the 31st National Para Games and Korea Forest Expo were held in Changwon at the same time, meant that a large number of hotel rooms was needed. Delegates from developing countries were sponsored by the UNCCD and were on strict budgets.

The Coex team located the delegates who wanted a more affordable stay at threestar hotels, and made sure each property matched international standards of quality. Coex also arranged all the transportation procedures for the delegates – of which many are high-level government ministers.

The team created a complex transportation schedule for all the groups from the 161 countries, who arrived at different times. The majority of delegates flew from Incheon International Airport to Gimhae Airport in Busan, where there was a regular bus service to the conference hotels and CECO.

UNCCD COP10 had a goal to create a solid resolution for worldwide environmental policymaking, so the conferences ran well past midnight on most days, and Coex and CECO staff had to be on hand at all hours. On the final day, the delegates worked until 2am to complete the final declaration.

Execution
Construction of the conference halls began on October 6. Each conference hall was suited for both the delegates and their assistants, and had connections to simultaneous translation systems for the six official languages of the United Nations: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, German, and Chinese. There was also simultaneous translation in Korean to represent the host country.

The team set up experience booths that served traditional food and teas, and an outdoor ‘Traditional Village Experience’ area that had games and handmade crafts. Each day, there was a Korean classical music and dance performance.

Comment
“The logistics at UNCCD COP10 was really good and we are very satisfied. Plus the town is beautiful,” says Kayhan UL, overseer for UNCCD at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Timeline
October 2009 Host city selected
February 2011 Coex chosen as PCO
October 6, 2011 Construction started on the conference halls