By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo

President Yoon Suk-yeol received John Podesta, Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy to the President of the United States, at the presidential office on March 12, and exchanged views on bilateral climate cooperation, global climate crisis response, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The President welcomed Mr. Podesta to Korea on his first overseas trip since being appointed to his current position. Recalling that he and President Biden agreed to expand cooperation on green technologies, including carbon reduction, during his state visit to the United States in April last year, the President noted that he looks forward to further strengthening bilateral cooperation to overcome the climate crisis. 

The president also said that South Korea will continue to achieve its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) through technological innovation and investment in new industries, and will continue to serve as a "green ladder" for the international community to close the climate gap based on its development experience.

Podesta expressed his strong support for South Korea's innovative approach to achieving its NDC, noting that the ambitious NDC targets set by the two countries through cooperation in the climate field send a positive message to the world in the fight against global climate change.

The President also noted that the IRA is not only contributing to the climate change response and clean energy transition, but also providing opportunities for Korean companies to enter the U.S. market and diversify their supply chains, and called for attention to ensure that Korean companies are fully incentivized under the IRA. 

Podesta said he recognizes that Korean companies are contributing much to U.S. economic development and supply chain stabilization, and he encouraged the two countries to continue their bilateral cooperation in the fight against climate change and the development of green industries.