[Full Text] President Moon: "Strongly Promote 'Carbon Neutrality' in All Areas of Industry, Economy, and Society"

2050 Republic of Korea Carbon Neutrality Declaration

President Moon Jae-in is delivering the Republic of Korea's carbon neutrality declaration speech, "Before It's Too Late 20050," on the afternoon of the 10th at the Blue House office. This speech was broadcast live nationwide through a black-and-white screen that consumes one-quarter of the data of color video to raise awareness about carbon reduction. 2020.12.10 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sunhee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 10th, "We will strongly promote 'carbon neutrality' in all areas of industry, economy, and society," adding, "We will shift the main energy supply source to renewable energy and foster three major new energy industries: renewable energy, hydrogen, and energy IT."

On the same day at around 7:35 p.m., President Moon delivered a speech titled '2050 Korea Carbon Neutrality Declaration' in the Blue House main office, stating, "Compared to industrialization that started 200 years late, 'carbon neutrality,' which starts from a relatively equal footing, is also an opportunity for our country to leap forward as a leading nation." He also emphasized, "The 'Green New Deal' announced last July is a bold first step toward a 2050 carbon-neutral society." The speech was broadcast live nationwide.

Below is the full text of President Moon's speech.

[Full Text]

Dear fellow citizens,

You have worked very hard throughout this year.

To all who have lost loved ones to COVID-19,

and to those still fighting illness at this very moment,

I extend my heartfelt condolences.

I sincerely salute all citizens who have endured inconvenience and hardship to cooperate with quarantine measures,

and I also express my gratitude to the countless everyday heroes who quietly sweat and dedicate themselves for their neighbors and families.

Dear citizens,

Many scientists have long warned that the climate crisis and resulting new infectious diseases would threaten humanity.

However, busy with daily life, it did not feel urgent to us.

We felt sorrow seeing melting glaciers or lost polar bears,

but considered it a distant issue.

Yet, before we knew it,

the climate crisis had come very close to our daily lives.

In the past decade,

record-breaking abnormal weather events labeled as 'once in 100 years'?such as concentrated heavy rains, abnormal high temperatures, droughts, heatwaves, typhoons, and severe fine dust?

have struck the Korean Peninsula every year.

By 2050, when children born this year reach their 30s,

the everyday life on the Korean Peninsula will be different from now.

Summers will be longer and winters shorter.

Extreme weather such as heatwaves and tropical nights will increase.

If pest damage overlaps,

the harvest of grains including rice could significantly decrease.

Raising livestock will also become more difficult than now.

Species unique to Korea,

such as the Korean fir on Hallasan and the lily of the valley on Sobaeksan, may remain only in photographs,

and we might not even hear the croaking of the green frog.

At least, Korea is in a better position.

Looking outward,

global abnormal weather is already causing much suffering to humanity worldwide.

The climate crisis, like COVID-19,

first makes the most vulnerable regions, groups, and disadvantaged people suffer the most,

and ultimately will make life painful for all humanity.

Dear citizens,

However, the bleak future I just described

will happen only if humanity continues to live without change as we do now.

Just as yesterday's us changed today,

how we act today can change tomorrow.

Our citizens have already been practicing environmental protection for 30 years.

The daily per capita waste amount, which reached 2.3 kg in 1990,

has decreased since the full introduction of the volume-based waste fee system in 1995,

and is now maintained around 1 kg.

Over the past 20 years, the recycling rate has also greatly increased,

reducing the amount of waste that must be landfilled or incinerated.

Citizens are already participating in saving the planet through daily practices such as reducing food waste and single-use items, and separating recyclables.

Meanwhile, the government has worked with citizens to overcome the climate crisis and has achieved many results.

Greenhouse gas emissions, which had been steadily increasing with industrial development,

turned to a decrease for the first time last year,

and are expected to decrease further this year.

Our government has completely stopped approving new coal power plants,

early retired ten old coal power plants,

boldly reduced coal power generation,

expanded renewable energy,

and made great efforts to reduce pollution from old diesel vehicles and promote eco-friendly cars.

Companies are also actively investing in representative decarbonization industries such as solar power, electric vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles,

leading the global market.

In electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems,

we hold the world's number one market share.

Nevertheless, the serious fact is

that the speed of climate change is accelerating.

The 'Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C,' unanimously adopted at the 48th IPCC meeting held in Korea in 2018,

warned that if the Earth's temperature rises more than 1.5 degrees since industrialization,

many human lives will be at risk due to sea level rise and abnormal weather.

The crisis is already approaching before our eyes.

This is why countries are competing to declare 'carbon neutrality by 2050.'

Countries and global companies are cooperating to achieve this common goal for humanity,

and accelerating innovation to gain competitiveness suitable for the new era.

Starting with the EU, major countries have already made the introduction of carbon border taxes a fait accompli.

Movements to restrict trade and investment to eco-friendly companies are spreading,

and international economic regulations and trade environments are rapidly changing.

For us, with a high proportion of manufacturing and many energy-intensive industries such as steel and petrochemicals,

this is a challenging task.

However, if it is the resilience of our people who, rising from the ruins of war,

started from an agricultural society and continuously developed through light industry, heavy chemical industry, and ICT to achieve economic growth,

there is nothing we cannot do.

We possess excellent low-carbon technologies such as batteries and hydrogen,

and lead in digital technology and innovation capabilities.

Compared to industrialization that started 200 years late,

'carbon neutrality,' which starts from a relatively equal footing,

is also an opportunity for Korea to leap forward as a leading nation.

The 'Green New Deal' announced last July

is a bold first step toward a '2050 carbon-neutral society.'

Going one step further,

we have prepared the '2050 Korea Carbon Neutrality Vision' to simultaneously achieve carbon neutrality, economic growth, and improved quality of life.

Our goal is to actively innovate and lead the international community by turning the global climate crisis response into an opportunity for 'inclusive and sustainable growth.'

We are creating a healthy and abundant future for our children.

First, we will strongly promote 'carbon neutrality' in all areas of industry, economy, and society.

We will shift the main energy supply source to renewable energy,

and foster three major new energy industries: renewable energy, hydrogen, and energy IT.

Second, we will strive to create a low-carbon industrial ecosystem.

We will support promising low-carbon new industry companies to capture the global market.

We will build a platform where large companies and startups can cooperate,

creating an innovation ecosystem.

We will activate a circular economy that minimizes energy consumption by expanding reuse and recycling of raw materials, products, and waste.

Third, we will promote a fair transition so that no marginalized groups or regions are left behind.

Through region-specific strategies and region-led green industry development,

we will create jobs and income for local residents.

The government's responsibility is heavy.

To lay the foundation during our administration,

we will boldly invest to achieve the three goals mentioned.

We will expand technology development and greatly strengthen research and development support.

Technology advancement is most important to achieve the '2050 carbon neutrality' goal.

Technology development must reduce the cost of energy transition.

The government will be a strong support so that our core technologies lead the world and become future growth engines.

We will establish a 'carbon-neutral friendly fiscal program,'

and actively promote green finance and funds to encourage citizens' participation in the Green New Deal.

In May next year, we will host the '2nd P4G Summit' in Seoul.

We will take the lead in realizing 'carbon neutrality' together with the international community.

We will firmly establish the foundation of a 'carbon-neutral society' within my term.

Dear citizens,

'Carbon neutrality' is a difficult but unavoidable task.

However, if it is difficult for us, it is difficult for other countries,

and if other countries can do it, so can we.

We are leading the world by overcoming COVID-19.

'K-quarantine' has become the global standard,

and we are recovering our economy faster than any other country.

I believe that the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Vision,'

together with the small actions of each citizen,

can once again set a global example.

Through small daily actions by all of us,

we can save the Earth and change the lives of ourselves, our neighbors, and our children.

Let's start now, before it is too late.

Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.