[Activity] Chairman Jai Chul CHOI Highlights Implementation Strategies for Korea’s 2035 NDC at the 3rd Climate Tech Initiative Forum > 게시글

On December 10, Jai Chul CHOI, Chairman of the Climate Change Center, participated in the 3rd Climate Tech Initiative Forum held at the FKI Tower Conference Center in Yeouido, Seoul. During the panel discussion, he addressed evolving international climate dynamics surrounding the 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and outlined Korea’s strategic challenges ahead.

Chairman CHOI noted that “the international climate governance framework is clearly at a turning point,” pointing to the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinions on climate change, which are increasingly shaping policy decisions and legal interpretations worldwide. He further highlighted that the “race to the top” embedded in Article 4 of the Paris Agreement could serve as a reference in future international disputes or litigation, emphasizing that “NDCs are no longer merely declaratory targets, but documents that must balance ambition with feasibility and accountability.”

Referring to recent discussions among East Asian countries, Chairman CHOI observed that “at the 2025 East Asia Climate Dialogue, major economies including Japan and China placed greater emphasis on implementation feasibility than on headline targets.” He explained that, amid a weakening multilateral environment, countries are refining NDC implementation strategies tailored to their national circumstances.

Turning to Korea’s priorities, he stressed that “the indicators are already clearly embedded in the NDC itself,” adding that “what is now required is a concrete implementation strategy that integrates industry, energy, and technology.” He underscored the rapid growth of electricity demand driven by AI data centers and other emerging industries, noting that “how these power-intensive sectors are supplied with low-carbon electricity will be a decisive factor in the success or failure of emissions reduction efforts.”

Chairman CHOI also cited France’s policies for fostering climate technology and start-ups, suggesting that Korea should similarly pursue a strategic approach led jointly by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth. He proposed the development of platform-based initiatives that bring together public and private stakeholders through structured dialogue, exhibitions, and exchanges focused on priority climate tech sectors.

Building on the discussions at the Forum, the Climate Change Center plans to further analyze the linkages between industry, energy systems, and climate technologies in the implementation of Korea’s 2035 NDC, and to expand policy- and market-oriented dialogues centered on practical execution.