Yoon proposes 'Carbon-Free Alliance' at UN General Assembly

Industry

Published: 21 Sep. 2023, 15:38 Updated: 21 Sep. 2023, 18:56

Yoon proposes 'Carbon-Free Alliance' at UN General Assembly

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol floated a “Carbon-Free Alliance” in his speech before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly session, promoting an active employment of nuclear power and green hydrogen as alternative energy sources in order to achieve global carbon goals.

The Carbon-Free Alliance, a global initiative to be set up by Korea, will serve as an open space for collaboration between governments as well as international organizations, according to the president.

“Korea will not only harness renewable energy but also extensively employ high-efficiency carbon-free energy (CFE), such as nuclear power and hydrogen, as a realistic measure to hasten our pursuit of carbon neutrality,” said Yoon.

“We also plan to share these energy sources with countries vulnerable to climate change, ensuring they too can benefit.”

To this end, “Korea will launch a ‘Carbon Free Alliance’, an open platform that anyone in the world can join to promote the adoption of carbon-free energy (CFE),” said Yoon.

The address was made at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

While the private-led Renewable Energy 100 (RE100) initiative aims to replace fossil fuels with renewables, renewable energy may not be a realistic option for some countries and regions, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a release Thursday.
CFE, therefore, will be a complementary energy source to renewables, the ministry suggested.

The alliance will have three missions: facilitating private-led innovations and investments in the CFE sector; establishing international standards in certification and verification of CFE employment; and enhancing the accessibility of CFE for developing nations through official development assistance and joint projects.

Major agendas for cooperation may involve nuclear plants, clean hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage.

Previous efforts to promote the wider adoption of CFE have been made by governments, international organizations and companies, including the 24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact put forward by Google and UN Energy.

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) welcomed the announcement.

“CFE, which encompasses not only renewables but also nuclear power, hydrogen and other energy sources that do not generate carbon emissions, will provide a broader range of options for companies pursuing carbon neutrality while opening up new opportunities for businesses,” said KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee in a statement released Thursday.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]