[Interview] Choi Jai-chul, Chair of the Climate Change Center and Lead Negotiator for the Paris Agreement : “International Carbon Markets Can Help Bridge the Gap When Technologies Fall Short” > 게시글

Emissions reductions not the ultimate goal; human well-being must come first
Climate policy must transcend politics; consistency through independent oversight is key

“Flexibility is essential when setting Korea’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). We should consider conditions tied to the development of carbon reduction technologies, and explore the use of international carbon markets as an alternative path to meet targets.”

This is the message from Ambassador Choi Jai-chul, newly appointed Chair of Korea’s Climate Change Center, in a recent interview with Energy Economy News, held approximately 70 days after his appointment. The Center, founded in 2008, is Korea’s first nonprofit NGO dedicated to climate change.

Ambassador Choi is a veteran diplomat with over three decades of experience. As early as the 1990s, he managed environmental diplomacy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseeing cooperation with Japan, China, and other Northeast Asian countries. He later served as Korea’s Chief Negotiator for the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which aimed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Drawing on his extensive diplomatic experience, Choi emphasized the importance of balancing national prestige and national interest. “Presenting an overly ambitious NDC may enhance Korea’s global image but could undermine national economic interests,” he warned, noting Korea’s heavy reliance on energy-intensive industries. In his view, the ultimate goal is not emissions reduction for its own sake—but ensuring people can live healthy, dignified lives. “Climate policy must prioritize human welfare,” he stressed.

Choi also emphasized the importance of insulating climate policy from political cycles. “There’s no left or right when it comes to the climate crisis,” he said, advocating for the establishment of an independent regulatory body to ensure consistency regardless of which party is in power.

Q&A with Ambassador Choi

Q: What is the Climate Change Center, and what are its main areas of work?
A: The Center was founded by former Prime Minister Goh Kun in 2008 to address climate and environmental challenges on the Korean Peninsula. Since then, leaders such as former SNU President Lee Jang-moo, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-sook have served as Chairs. The Center operates independently of government and political influence.

Our work falls into three main categories. First, education: we run the Climate Leadership Academy, now in its 24th edition, which originally involved lawmakers and mayors and now includes executives from government and corporations. We also operate Climatus College, a climate action platform for youth, with over 880,000 participants online and offline.

Second, we serve as a policy platform. For example, when the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was under discussion, we organized a global dialogue in partnership with EU research bodies to gather Korean perspectives on carbon markets.

Third, we engage in international cooperation. Our clean cookstove projects in developing countries reduce emissions and significantly improve women’s health.

Q: What was it like to return to lead the Center?
A: I feel both honored and humbled. It reminds me of my time as Korea’s Climate Ambassador. I’m determined to strengthen the Center’s independence and expertise, ensuring it becomes a truly self-sustaining institution—not viewed as an extension of the government or any affiliated body.

“Legal Binding of Targets Can Be a Liability”

Q: As Korea’s chief negotiator at the Paris Agreement, what key lessons do you take from that experience?
A: The Paris Agreement was groundbreaking in eliminating the binary divide between developed and developing countries. Back in 1987, Korea was still classified as a developing country under the Montreal Protocol. But by 2015, Korea had become the world’s fifth-largest car exporter and a leading semiconductor powerhouse. It was clear that rigid classifications no longer applied.

In 2009, Korea pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from business-as-usual levels by 2020—without any conditions. This was in contrast to other nations, which tied their targets to the establishment of global carbon markets.

Under the Paris Agreement, NDCs must be progressively strengthened over time. Korea committed to a 37% reduction by 2030. It was a difficult goal, so I insisted that these targets should not carry international legal obligations. If we fail to meet them, we must retain the flexibility to adopt legal measures domestically. Otherwise, we risk being trapped by binding commitments.

I documented these experiences in my book, A Diplomat’s Climate Negotiation Diary, published in 2020.

Q: What are your expectations for COP30 in Brazil this November?
A: I don’t foresee major breakthroughs given today’s geopolitical tensions. Brazil recently joined OPEC, and fossil fuel–dependent countries will naturally seek to protect their interests. That said, Brazil may push for climate finance mechanisms that reward tropical forest conservation. With the U.S. absent from the table, BRICS countries will likely try to assert leadership at COP30.

Q: What advice would you give Korean officials preparing the 2035 NDC?
A: International negotiations are always a balance of image and interest. Submitting an ambitious NDC may earn applause—but it also sets the bar higher for others, who can then afford to submit more modest targets. We need flexibility in our 2035 NDC. If technologies like hydrogen-based steelmaking or CCUS become commercially viable, we can reduce emissions in those sectors. If not, we should include provisions to meet targets via international carbon markets.

Comparisons with Europe or Japan are misleading. They began emissions reductions in the 1990s. Korea only joined in earnest after the 2015 Paris Agreement. Our economy was built on carbon-intensive industries. The ultimate goal is not zero carbon, but a better life for people. National interest means ensuring jobs, health, and happiness for our citizens.

“COP30 Unlikely to Deliver; Local Governments Must Be Empowered”

Q: The Center also supports a coalition of local governments on energy transition. Are municipalities doing enough?
A: Climate action is a burden for many local governments, especially under budget constraints. Most emissions come from power generation and industry—areas where local authorities have limited jurisdiction. Korea’s electricity market is still a national monopoly. We need public debate on granting municipalities more control over renewable energy deployment, such as allowing microgrids.

Regions like Busan, Incheon, North Gyeongsang, South Jeolla, and South Chungcheong have high electricity self-sufficiency. We should decentralize data centers and industrial parks to reduce reliance on long-distance transmission. Waste management is also a major issue. Waste-to-energy strategies must be prioritized, but currently 60–70% of waste is still landfilled rather than used as an energy source. Without reform, we risk seeing new “trash mountains” like the one in Uiseong.

Q: With President Yoon’s impeachment, Korea’s political climate is highly unstable. What’s your take on the future of climate policy?
A: In countries like the UK and Denmark, climate policy continuity is maintained regardless of political transitions. Parties may debate fiercely during negotiations, but once decisions are made, they present a united front to the global community. Korea needs that kind of consensus. There’s no ideology in the climate crisis. We must create an independent regulatory body to ensure consistent and depoliticized climate and energy policy.

■ About Choi Jai-chul
Born in 1958 in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk Province, Ambassador Choi studied French literature at Seoul National University and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981. His career includes posts as Ambassador to Morocco (2009–2012), Deputy Permanent Representative to the OECD (2012–2014), Climate Ambassador and Chief Negotiator at COP21 (2014–2016), Ambassador to Denmark (2016–2019), Co-Chair of the Climate Change Center (2020–2024), and Ambassador to France (2022–2024). In 2025, he was appointed Chair of the Climate Change Center.

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