Cho Tae-yong Confirms Response Direction to U.S. Climate Change Policy

Cho Tae-yong, Member of the People Power Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Rep. Cho Tae-yong of the People Power Party examined South Korea's response direction to the United States' climate change policy together with experts.

On the 25th, Rep. Cho held a forum titled "The Biden Administration's Climate Change Policy and Our Response - Is 2050 Carbon Neutrality Really Possible?"

Rep. Cho explained, "The Biden administration is leading global climate change responses by hosting climate summits, raising greenhouse gas reduction targets, creating momentum for cooperation, and strengthening leadership. In response, we held this forum to examine whether the '2050 Carbon Neutrality' declared by the Moon Jae-in administration is an appropriate and feasible response, and to seek the right solutions."

The forum included Son Seong-hwan, Chairman of the World Wide Fund for Nature Korea (WWF-Korea); Son Byung-kwon, Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Chung-Ang University; Shim Sang-min, former professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy; and Lee Jae-hyup, Professor at Seoul National University School of Law.

Chairman Son Seong-hwan presented on the topic "The Biden Administration's Climate Policy and Korea's Response." He emphasized Korea's response direction, stating, "We need to draft long-term emission reduction scenarios, consider industries and jobs excluded in the energy transition process, and clearly explain the medium- to long-term benefits to secure national consensus. The U.S. is expected to reorganize supply chains and ecosystems through a U.S.-centered or allied coalition to secure clean energy technologies and essential raw materials and components, and we need to actively participate in this process."

Professor Son Byung-kwon said, "In the U.S., clean jobs, clean economic transition, net zero, and climate justice are comprehensively discussed and systematically organized within the framework of the Green New Deal. In contrast, Korea has shown slow responses, such as only recently establishing the Carbon Neutrality Committee. It is now necessary to create a long-term and comprehensive plan and actively promote to the public the need for specific cost-sharing and transition to a clean economy related to the Green New Deal."

In response, Rep. Cho stated, "A detailed plan for carbon neutrality will be announced soon, and it must be objectively and scientifically proven to the public whether 2050 carbon neutrality is possible solely through renewable energy while phasing out nuclear power. If it is judged that 2050 carbon neutrality is impossible under the current nuclear phase-out policy, then President Moon Jae-in should reconsider the nuclear phase-out policy and establish the right policy."

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