President Moon Jae-in attended the Leaders’ Dialogue on Climate Change held today on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. At the dialogue presided over by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President Moon introduced the Korean Government’s eco-friendly climate policy and expressed its commitment to working together with the international community in countering climate change.

The Dialogue was arranged by Secretary-General Guterres with the aim of discussing measures to drive climate action with leaders of major countries that spearhead efforts to combat climate change. Today’s event was attended by the heads of state and government of 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Fiji and Ecuador, and the foreign ministers of 10 nations, including China, India and Japan. The focus of discussions was placed on six issues? investment in clean technology; carbon pricing; the energy transition; risk mitigation; augmenting the contribution of sub-national actors and businesses, and mobilizing finance.

Among the seven leaders to address the Dialogue, President Moon took the podium as the fourth presenter. He underscored that the new Korean Administration has put the “people” and “solidarity and cooperation” at the centerpiece of all policies in addressing pending issues. He went on to explain that, under this guiding principle, the Korean Government would continue to cooperate actively with the international community in a climate change response that sets its sights on decent and sustainable living.

President Moon noted that carbon pricing was a very effective policy in promoting energy transition and reducing carbon emissions. The President went on to say that his Administration was planning to encourage domestic businesses responsible for two-thirds of the country`s overall greenhouse gas emissions to join the emissions trading system, thereby driving innovations in related technology and meeting the greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030 as well.   

In addition, the President said that efforts would be channeled into establishing a clean and safe energy system by gradually decreasing the nation`s dependence on coal-fired and nuclear power plants while increasing renewable energy`s share of the electricity generation mix to 20 percent by 2030. The President also said that his Administration would push for the establishment of the Northeast Asia Supergrid, which would provide electricity generated from clean-energy sources in Mongolia and Siberia, thereby making contributions to defusing tensions in the region and promoting cooperation. 

Making clear Korea’s resolve to support developing nations through the Global Green Growth Institute and the  HYPERLINK "http://www.greenclimate.fund/" Green Climate Fund , both based in Korea, President Moon asked for the international community’s support and interest in the two organizations’ activities. 

U.N. Secretary-General Guterres organized the Dialogue to seek to strengthen the determination of the leaders of major countries to respond to climate change. Based on the result of the Dialogue, he intends to prepare the Climate Summit 2019 to bolster climate action. 

The nations that participated in the Dialogue were selected by the U.N. Secretariat from among major countries involved in climate change issues in different regions. The invitation of President Moon is considered to demonstrate that Korea’s contribution to the international community’s efforts to respond to climate change is being well acknowledged.