KLRI : KOREA LEGISLATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 

 

Korea Legislation Research Institute (President Kye-Hong Kim) held the first International Climate Change Legislation Forum under the theme of ‘Green New Deal and Just Transition’ at the International Hall of Korea University on June 30 (Wed.) with Korea University (President Jin-Taek Chung), Center for Climate and Sustainable Development Law and Policy (CSDLAP, Director Suh-Yong Chung), and the Korean Society of Climate Change Research (KSCC, President Dong-Woon Noh).

 

The forum was designed to provide a forward-looking vision for a carbon-neutral society, and dealt with the German strategy for just transition along with the Green New Deal and Green Economy presented by other governments.

 

Starting with the opening speech of KLRI President Kim, the forum had congratulatory messages from Jong-Soo Yoon, Senior Advisor of CSDLAP and former Minister of Environment, Dong-Woon Noh, President of KSCC, and Michael Reiffenstuel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Korea. 

 

KLRI President Kim said in his opening speech, “The climate crisis is believed to be one of the main causes of ongoing pandemic and frequent natural disasters. In amid of the vigorous global responses against climate change, the implementation of carbon neutral is presenting ground-breaking opportunities as well as challenges across the economic structure and social foundation.” He continued saying, “I hope that the International Climate Change Legislation Forums that will be held three more times thorough this year provides an opportunity to present a forward-looking vision for the carbon neutral society.”

 

Jong-Soo Yoon, Senior Advisor of CSDLAP (former Minister of Environment) said in his welcoming speech, “The transition to a renewable energy and decarbonization structure is inevitable. However, the difficulties that the workers in the industries that have laid the foundation of Korea’s economic growth should not be treated any lightly as well as the difficulties of the industries themselves.” He also expressed his anticipation of the forum, saying “‘No One Left Behind’ is the key of the SDGs announced by the UN in 2015 for the international society to meet by 2030. I hope to see valuable proposals for policies at today’s forum that make sure no one left behind in the course of heading toward the carbon neutral society.”

 

The following presentation session had the following speakers: Sarwat Chowdhury, Policy Specialist at UNDP Seoul Policy Center who presented on ‘Green New Deal andJust Transition’, Felix Matthes, Research Coordinator for Energy & Climate Policy at Oko-Institut who presented on ‘Germany’s Decarbonization Strategy and Policy for Effective and Just Transition’, and Chris Hopkins, Policy Manager at Green Economy Coalition who presented on ‘Green Economy and Just Translation’”. 

 

In the comprehensive discussion session, Sang-Hoon Kim, head of the climate strategy department of Ministry of Environment, Hyun-Jong Hong, Secretary-General of Korea Business Council for Sustainable Development, Kyung-Hee Lee, KLRI Research Fellow, and Si-Jeong Lim, Associate Professor at International Studies of Korea University participated in vigorous discussion. 

 

The forum was broadcast live online, which can be found at KLRI’s Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnCigf-LYfE&t=1156).

 

KLRI plans to hold the International Climate Change Legislation Forum four times throughout this year in order to provide a forum to discuss climate change legislation. Today’s forum was the first of the scheduled four forums. 

 

 

 

Date: June 30, 2021

Venue: Korea University International Studies Hall and Online