Minister plans renewable energy transition to end fossil fuel dependence

Minister Kim Sung-whan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced plans to overhaul the energy system centered on renewable energy.

Minister Kim, attending a National Assembly audit held on the 14th at the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, stated, "The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will lay the foundation for South Korea to end its carbon civilization dependent on fossil fuels and transition to a decarbonized green civilization centered on renewable energy."

Minister Kim stressed that human civilization faces collapse due to persistent fossil fuel use and that a swift transition to decarbonization is essential. He explained, "To achieve this, we will expand renewable energy adoption, construct energy highways, and restructure the energy system around renewables," adding, "We will foster carbon-neutral industries -- such as solar, wind, electric vehicles, batteries, heat pumps, virtual power plants (VPPs), and the circular economy -- as new growth engines for the nation."

He also pledged to strengthen safety nets to address the climate crisis. Minister Kim stated, "We will pursue preemptive responses based on precise climate predictions, focusing on tributaries and urban areas prone to flooding, as well as regions facing water shortages due to extreme droughts," and emphasized, "We will establish and implement a cross-ministerial climate livelihood strategy by year's end to protect citizens' daily lives from normalized extreme weather events like heatwaves and cold spells."

Regarding escalating climate disasters such as extreme floods and droughts, Minister Kim affirmed plans to build resilient safety nets. He reiterated, "We will prioritize preemptive measures based on precise climate forecasting for flood-prone tributaries, urban areas, and regions suffering water shortages from extreme droughts," and added, "We will finalize and execute a cross-ministerial climate livelihood strategy this year to safeguard citizens' daily lives from extreme weather events like heatwaves and cold spells."

Minister Kim further stated, "We will provide high-quality environmental services tailored to public expectations, including fine dust reduction, clean water supply, robust chemical safety networks, and healthy ecosystems," and vowed, "We will resolve long-standing environmental challenges such as the Nakdong River water issue, the metropolitan waste problem, and the humidifier disinfectant victim issue, which have caused prolonged conflicts."

Minister Kim Sung-whan to Overhaul Energy System with Renewables