The decision to establish the Global Green Growth Institute was made in the second half of 2010 and was formalized in President Lee Myung-Bak’s address in Copenhagen December 17, 2009

• The President emphasized the importance of a global discussion on reducing greenhouse gas

The idea was to form a global think-tank to develop a green growth plan that could be applied by both developed and developing countries

• The Institute will play a role in contributing to solve the problems of climate change and economic growth, analyzing and suggesting strategies for green growth suitable for each nation
• Several experts have expressed their willingness to participate. These included the British economist Nicolas Stern, Thomas Heller of Stanford University and a representative of the Climate Policy Initiative, Hal Harvey of Climateworks, Andreas Merki, a director of Project Catalyst, and Eric Beinhocker, a senior fellow of the McKinsey Global Institute.
• GGGI will draw on those who have been active in academia, international organizations, research and interest groups, and will establish a global network

The green growth plans of developing countries in Asia will be supported in connection with the "East Asian Climate Partnership" that the Korean government is promoting

• GGGI will play an important role to hand down the know-hows of economic growth through green growth to the developing countries in Asia.

The headquarters of GGGI was established in Korea in the second half of 2010. Some five branches will be established in developed and developing countries by 2012.