A major global environmental conference has opened on the southern island of Cheju.

More than one-thousand-200 government delegates, activists and representatives of international bodies from one-hundred-40 countries around the world are participating in the Global Ministerial Environment Forum and the Special Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program.

In a congratulatory speech, Acting president, Goh Kun called on the international community to jointly tackle global environmental issues. Goh said the global community must work together in a cooperative network to protect the environment as both benefits of preservation and fallout from environmental destruction are not restricted to their regions of origin.

The three-day conference, being held under the theme, 'Environmental Dimension of Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements,?is the first UN environment meeting to be hosted in Asia.

Participants are seeking measures on major environmental issues, including the issue of water shortage, sanitation and air pollution in mega cities.

Other topics of discussions include ways to counter yellow dust originating from China's desert regions, a key environmental issue for Northeast Asia.