[Activity] Chairman Choi Jai-chul Delivers Keynote at National Assembly Seminar on 2035 NDC and Global Climate Governance > 게시글

On August 19, Chairman Jai-chul Choi of the Climate Change Center participated as a keynote speaker at the fifth breakfast seminar hosted by the Special Committee on Climate Crisis of the National Assembly (Chair: Seong-gon Wi), held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building. The seminar, entitled “The Paris Agreement Framework and the Role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Toward Global Carbon Neutrality by 2050,” was convened to examine the progress of international carbon neutrality efforts, Article 6 mechanisms of the Paris Agreement, and Korea’s pathway for establishing its 2035 NDC.

In his presentation, Chairman Choi addressed four key themes: ▲the evolution of the global climate regime, ▲international mitigation pathways informed by overseas experience, ▲the need for flexibility and timeliness such as adopting an NDC range target when setting emission reduction goals, and ▲the policy and diplomatic considerations involved in formulating Korea’s 2035 emission-reduction targets.

He also highlighted recent developments, including the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on climate change and the upcoming COP30, underscoring the urgency of submitting Korea’s NDC without delay and establishing a credible implementation roadmap to maintain international trust.

The subsequent Q&A session explored several critical issues, including the risks associated with delayed submission of the 2035 NDC, the potential implications of the landmark advisory opinion issued by the ICJ, and how global political shifts, particularly in the United States, could affect Korea’s climate commitments.

Chairman Choi emphasized that Korea must secure both international credibility and domestic policy effectiveness in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. He reiterated the importance of diplomatic leadership and strategic decision-making at the national level in navigating the complex challenges of climate change.