S. Korea climate chief vows to lead global carbon neutrality efforts after London summit

Lee Chang-hoon, co-chair of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, said Sunday that South Korea would continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a leading global actor in securing the survival of future generations and advancing carbon neutrality.

Lee made the remarks after attending the 2026 London Climate Action Week, held from June 22 through June 26 in London. "This visit to London was an opportunity to firmly establish South Korea's leading clean energy policy and its innovative climate governance model — one that links judicial, legislative and public deliberation processes — in the international community," he said.

"Responding to the climate crisis goes beyond questions of technology and financing," Lee said. "It is fundamentally about how policy is decided, how implementation is monitored, and how the voices of future generations are reflected."

During the event, the commission pursued three goals: driving international cooperation for the clean energy transition, introducing South Korea's climate governance model to the global community for the first time in an official setting, and building a cooperative network with climate commissions from major countries.

South Korea's model linking judicial, legislative and public deliberation processes drew particular attention. The model originated in Asia's first constitutional climate lawsuit and evolved into the launch of a presidential climate commission and the operation of a standing citizens' climate assembly. It was highlighted as a key case study in international climate governance discussions.

At the Global Energy Transition and Electrification Summit (GETES) held June 23, South Korea shared its energy transition strategy at the official launch session of "Electrify Now," a global electrification initiative.

The commission presented South Korea's approach of pursuing decarbonization and electrification as core strategies for the energy transition, including expanding clean power generation, accelerating electrification in the industrial and transportation sectors, and building a safer and more flexible power system through advanced grids and energy storage systems.

"Participating in the 2026 London Climate Action Week provided a valuable opportunity to communicate to the international community that South Korea is simultaneously advancing an energy transition and climate governance reform," the commission said. It added that the event was significant in that the commission had begun to actively lead global climate governance discussions — moving beyond domestic policy coordination and review to engage on future generations, citizen participation, science-based advisory functions and cooperation among international climate commissions.