Public and private sectors join forces to build green competitiveness in the AI era

The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and the Korea Business Council for Sustainable Development (KBCSD) announced Monday that they will co-host the 8th Sustainable Business Innovation Forum on Wednesday afternoon at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Since 2019, the ministry and KBCSD have held the annual forum to bring together the private sector and government to discuss creative solutions on timely topics related to sustainable development.

This year's forum will focus on the growing role of advanced technologies such as AI as a driving force behind carbon neutrality and the transition to green industries. The theme is "Completing the Value of the Green Transformation Through the Intelligence of AI Transformation: The Choices of Leaders Who Will Drive Korea's Green Transformation (K-GX)."

The forum is divided into three sessions. In the first, KBCSD Honorary Chairman Heo Dong-su and Kyung Hee University Professor Lee Kyung-jeon will share perspectives on industrial competitiveness and corporate value creation in the AI era, as well as the importance of sustainable management.

The second session will feature the ministry's K-GX Planning Group presenting Korea's green transformation strategy, followed by Korea Zinc Sustainability Management Division President Jeong Mu-gyeong, who will outline the company's ESG leadership approach, eco-friendly smelting innovations and a roadmap for resource self-sufficiency.

Son Do-il, a senior partner at law firm Yulchon, will present strategies for building a legal and institutional foundation to support Korea's green transformation ecosystem. KBCSD Chairman Park Jae-wan will moderate a special discussion on policy frameworks and business innovation needed to turn AI-driven green transformation into an opportunity for industrial competitiveness.

In the third session, Romaric Ernst, senior vice president for Asia at Schneider Electric, will introduce the company's AI-accelerated manufacturing innovation and green energy transition strategy.

Francois Scheffler, senior vice president at DSM-Firmenich, will share case studies on sustainable product design and process innovation using AI algorithms.

Oh Il-young, director general for climate and energy policy at the ministry, said the green transformation is "a core strategy for achieving carbon neutrality and securing the future competitiveness of the nation and its businesses." He added that the ministry would provide maximum policy and fiscal support "so that our companies can lead the global green market, with AI technology as the key driver of the green transition."