In a landmark event held during the APEC Leaders’ Summit, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Kyu Bang co-led the U.S.-Korea Clean Energy Business Roundtable. This innovative gathering marked a significant milestone in the 70-year alliance between the United States and Korea, opening doors to explore fresh avenues of collaboration in clean energy.
Gone are the days of unilateral efforts in addressing climate change. The Clean Energy Business Roundtable embraced the essential need for public-private cooperation, with both nations committing to spearhead joint responses in achieving net-zero emissions and tackling the urgent challenge of global warming. Leading representatives from cutting-edge sectors, including IT, semiconductors, automobiles, energy equipment, and more, showcased their commitment to cleaner practices. Prominent industry players like Samsung Electronics, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Motor, and Microsoft gathered alongside international behemoths such as Google, Amazon, and ExxonMobil, eager to forge meaningful partnerships.
Foreseeing the transformative role of the private sector, the United States emphasized the significance of corporate renewable energy demand as a driving force. By sending clear signals to government policymakers, businesses can prioritize and accelerate clean electricity adoption, spearheading the decarbonization movement. This top-down approach will not only mitigate environmental impact but also present economic opportunities and foster sustainable growth.
Minister Bang echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the pressing need for stable and large-scale clean power supply. Mobilizing all policy efforts at hand is vital to achieve carbon neutrality, especially among the international companies present at the roundtable. Supportive of this mission, he highlighted the shared vision between the Carbon-Free (CF) Alliance Initiative of Korea and the U.S. Clean Energy Demand Initiative (CEDI) in expanding carbon-free energy usage. By capitalizing on this shared vision, a mutually beneficial partnership can be forged, paving the way for impactful collaboration between the two initiatives.
President Lee Hoesung of the CFE Alliance further emphasized the need for global solidarity in response to the climate crisis. While acknowledging the importance of technology-neutral solutions, President Lee stressed the urgent need to enhance the capacity for supplying carbon-free energy, underpinning the world’s journey towards a sustainable future.
FAQs
1. What is the purpose of the U.S.-Korea Clean Energy Business Roundtable?
The U.S.-Korea Clean Energy Business Roundtable aims to explore opportunities for strengthening clean energy cooperation between the two nations and fostering public-private collaboration in achieving climate goals.
2. Which companies attended the Clean Energy Business Roundtable?
Prominent industry leaders from various sectors, including Samsung Electronics, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Motor, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and ExxonMobil, participated in the roundtable, representing a wide range of expertise and commitment to clean energy.
3. How can the private sector contribute to clean energy transition?
The private sector can play a pivotal role in driving clean energy adoption by signaling demand for renewable energy to government policymakers and prioritizing decarbonization efforts within their operations.
4. What shared vision do the CF Alliance Initiative and CEDI have?
The CF Alliance Initiative of Korea and the U.S. Clean Energy Demand Initiative share a common goal of expanding the use of carbon-free energy. Their partnership aims to find collaborative means to achieve this objective.