Korea's Low Carbon, Green Growth Vision and the Potential for U.S.-Korea Cooperation: A Policy Seminar

Korea’s green pledge was articulated in President Lee Myung-bak’s New Green Growth Formula, summarized in his August 15, 2008 address on the 60th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea. Noting that, after the agricultural, industrial, and information revolution, the world is about to enter the age of an environmental revolution, President Lee presented low carbon Green Growth as a “new national development paradigm” that will create new growth engines and jobs in the 21st century, with the advent of green technology and clean energy. This policy seminar aims to initiate and stimulate discussion on Korea’s green growth vision, including: the national strategy; the five-year action plan; greenhouse gases reduction targets; smart grids; green cars; and nuclear energy. The seminar also intends to initiate discussion on areas with good potential for U.S.-Korea cooperation on green growth. The addresses by Korean presenters will be followed by comments from U.S. discussants.

Seminar Agenda

10:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks
Abraham Kim, Vice President, Korea Economic Institute

10:05 a.m. Session 1: Green Growth, Road to Korea’s Future

Moderator: Greg Scarlatoiu, Director for Public Affairs and Business Issues, Korea Economic Institute

"Korea’s National Strategy for Green Growth"
Presenter: Chan-woo Kim, Director-General, International Cooperation Office,
Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea

Discussant: James Bradbury, Senior Associate, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute

"Green Growth: New Paradigm for Economic Development"
Presenter: Hyunghwan Joo, Director General, International Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Strategy and Finance

Discussant: Robert Pollin, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

12:00 p.m. Luncheon
Keynote speaker introduction: Abraham Kim

Keynote Address: "Opportunities to Build a Clean, Sustainable Energy Future"
The Honorable Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy

1:30 p.m. Session 2: Korea’s Technology for a Sustainable Energy Future
Moderator: Abraham Kim
"Nuclear Energy and the Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV)"
Presenter: Soon Heung Chang, Provost and Vice President of Operations, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

"Issues of Radioactive Waste Disposal in Korea: Challenges and Opportunities"
Presenter: Yongsoo Hwang, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)/CSIS

Discussant: Dr. Gregory L. Rorrer, Program Director, Energy for Sustainability, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Engineering Directorate, National Science Foundation

3:30 p.m. Summary Remarks
Greg Scarlatoiu