Busan: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok pledged Wednesday to ease regulations and take reform measures to nurture new technologies for tackling climate change, saying South Korea is at the forefront of the renewable energy transition for future growth. Kim made the remarks during the 2025 World Climate Industry Expo (WCE), taking place in the southeastern port city of Busan, highlighting that such efforts will help the country achieve carbon neutrality and strengthen energy security.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim emphasized the government's commitment to promoting the new climate tech industry in his opening speech. "We will pave the way for a sustainable future through reforms in regulations and systems," he stated. The Prime Minister highlighted that the new Lee Jae Myung government is leading initiatives to build an "energy highway," by expanding power grids and advocating a shift toward renewable energy.
Kim further elaborated on the government's strategy to enhance the stability and efficiency of power grids through the expansion of distributed energy systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Distributed energy systems, which include small-scale power generation and storage facilities, offer greater flexibility and resilience, with rooftop solar panels and small wind turbines being typical examples.
He emphasized the significance of a stable energy transition for the advancement of AI and noted that AI technology is crucial for energy innovation. The convergence of energy and AI, Kim said, will serve as a breakthrough in addressing climate change and the energy crisis. He also stressed that climate and energy challenges cannot be managed by individual nations alone and expressed South Korea's commitment to working with the international community to pursue a sustainable future led by AI and energy.
The WCE, launched in 2023, is an international event jointly hosted by the public and private sectors, aimed at discussing global responses to the climate crisis and efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Government delegations from 32 countries, heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Seoul, and other key international organization officials attended the expo, which will run through Friday.