[Interview] Chairman Choi Jai-chul of the Climate Change Center: “The Climate Crisis Is Not a Passing Trend” > 게시글

- “Climate diplomacy begins with trust” — From diplomacy to platforms, strategies for climate action
- RE100: Substance over form — diversification of emission reduction pathways needed
- Korean companies must achieve meaningful reductions through credible methodologies
- Center nurturing future climate leaders through programs such as the Green Leadership Academy

 

 

“The climate crisis must be addressed with the same long-term perspective as diplomacy. It is not an issue that can be resolved in a short period of time. It requires decades of observation, cooperation, and trust to find solutions.”

 

So stated Jai-chul Choi, former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to France and now the sixth Chairman of the Climate Change Center, emphasizing that the climate crisis demands long-term strategies akin to those in diplomacy. Chairman Choi, who entered the diplomatic service through the 15th Foreign Service Examination, has devoted more than 40 years of public service to climate diplomacy. He played a significant role in the conclusion of the Paris Agreement and has remained active in civil society following his retirement from the foreign service.

 

In his office at the Climate Change Center, Chairman Choi discussed the Center’s role, goals, and vision.

 

“In diplomacy and climate alike, negotiations begin with trust”

During his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chairman Choi served as Chair of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Climate Change Ambassador, and Ambassador to Denmark, gaining first-hand experience at the forefront of climate diplomacy. His central lesson: the importance of building trust.

 

“Whether in diplomacy or climate negotiations, everything begins with trust. If each side insists only on its own position, nothing can be achieved,” he said. As the new head of the Climate Change Center, he expressed his determination to build “a platform of trust where industry, civil society, and government can come together.” For him, climate response should not be a space of conflict and division but a common arena for shaping collective direction.

 

RE100 and beyond: from symbolic participation to meaningful reductions

With growing corporate participation in RE100, Chairman Choi stressed, “What matters is not formal participation, but meaningful, substantive emission reductions.” Reflecting on his experience as Ambassador to Denmark, he noted that he had witnessed the expansion of renewable energy in Europe and emphasized, “We must develop strategies tailored to our own circumstances.” He explained, “Europe benefits from different infrastructure and institutional support. In Korea, we must find our own ways within our context.”

 

This perspective is embedded in the Center’s voluntary carbon market platform, Aora, launched in April 2022 as the first of its kind by a Korean NGO. Aora provides a structure enabling companies to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gases domestically and internationally, with transparent certification and trading. It identifies and connects high-quality projects, aligns with global verification systems, and supports ESG strategies, thereby broadening participation across society.

 

Cultivating future climate leaders

The Climate Change Center also invests heavily in youth education, running programs such as Climatus College and the Green Leadership Academy to cultivate the next generation of climate leaders. “An increasing number of young people want to align climate issues with their career paths,” Chairman Choi observed, stressing the need for tangible career support. “It should not be just about mobilizing for campaigns, but about providing real networks and starting points for careers.”

 

Some program participants have already advanced into fields such as ESG, environmental finance, and international organizations. This trajectory aligns with the Center’s vision of becoming a “growing platform for civil society.”

 

The Center is also advancing international cooperation projects. Its clean cookstove initiatives in countries such as Ghana and Cambodia go beyond emission reductions to improve the lives of women and children. By replacing traditional biomass cooking methods that emit black carbon with biogas facilities and clean stoves, and by improving ventilation in kitchens, the Center is helping to create safer and healthier environments, enabling developing countries to strengthen their resilience to climate change.

 

“A nonprofit must also be sustainable”

Chairman Choi stressed the importance of broadening avenues for meaningful mitigation. “Even companies that face limitations in reducing emissions domestically can achieve credible reductions abroad using internationally recognized methodologies,” he said. “The international community looks to action, not words. Diversifying mitigation approaches is essential for sustainability.”

 

He added, “Although the Climate Change Center is a nonprofit, it must build a sustainable structure.” The Center is strengthening its self-sufficiency through revenue generated by its platform, service fees from program operations, and education projects. “Since the climate crisis is a long-term struggle, our financial and human resource foundations must be strong. A nonprofit organization must be sustainable,” he emphasized.

 

Reiterating his conviction, he concluded: “The climate crisis is not a passing trend. What is needed is an organization that sets direction and creates momentum.”

 

The climate crisis, like diplomacy, is an arena requiring coordination, persuasion, and patience. With his background as a diplomat, Chairman Jai-chul Choi is now applying his characteristic prudence and insight to exercise platform leadership that connects industry, government, and civil society.

 

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