MEET THE PEOPLE

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 drew twenty million Americans into the streets, a scale of unified environmental action that feels almost unimaginable in today's polarized landscape of climate discussions. In this interview, Tia Nelson, daughter of Earth Day's founder Senator Gaylord Nelson, discussed the personal lessons she carries from her father's legacy and what it takes to rebuild the same kind of broad, bi-partisan climate action that defined the early Earth Day

Solar power has become the foundation of the global clean energy transition, but some of its most promising innovations are being developed far beyond Earth. At the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), there is ongoing research to design perovskite solar cells to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations of space, where durability is as critical as efficiency. In this interview, Lee Seung-min, a solar cells researcher at the KAIST Department of Mat

Environmental responsibility is no longer viewed solely as a corporate commitment, but is increasingly becoming an important factor in long-term business strategy and investment decisions. In the logistics industry, where transportation accounts for a significant share of emissions, companies are under growing pressure to improve efficiency while reducing their environmental impact. In this interview, Yoo Hyun-chul, Investor Relations Manager at CJ Korea Express, discusses ho

As investors, regulators, and businesses gradually recognize climate risk as a driver of corporate performance, sustainable finance has emerged as a central force in the transition to a net-zero economy. In this interview, Kang Chang-mo, an Associate Professor of Finance at the Hanyang University School of Business, shared how climate risk influences corporate value, why financial markets play a critical role in driving sustainability, and what policies are needed to encourag

The transition to cleaner energy depends not only on renewable power and batteries, but also on the innovations that make energy systems more efficient, namely cooling technologies. Refrigerants and thermal management solutions are one way to reduce energy consumption in electric vehicles. In this interview, Cho Dong-seop shared insights into the growing demand for advanced thermal management solutions and how innovations in cooling technologies could contribute to a more sus

As the demand for clean energy and emerging technologies continues to grow, batteries are becoming the foundation of electric vehicles and artificial intelligence infrastructure. In this interview, Lee Seung-jun, Media Relations Manager at Samsung SDI, discussed the company's next-generation battery technologies, efforts to build a more sustainable battery lifecycle, and how innovations such as energy storage systems are shaping the future of the energy transition. First, cou

Financial institutions are playing an increasingly important role in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy by directing capital toward sustainable industries. In this interview, Lee Eun-ha at the Shinhan Financial Group's SDGs Planning Team discussed the importance of climate-related financial disclosures, the need for sustainable finance strategies, and how financial institutions can support businesses in balancing economic growth with decarbonization. First, c

Brazil already runs cars on pure ethanol, and countries like the Philippines and Vietnam blend it into gasoline to cut sulfur emissions. However, in Korea, low-carbon fuel has barely entered the domestic market. In this interview, Kim Sun-wook of the Korea Alcohol Group discussed how the company sources and exports fuel ethanol across Asia, why unclear government policy remains the biggest obstacle to adopting it domestically, and the natural limits like arable land that keep

EVs are increasingly becoming an important part of the global transition to net-zero, and public understanding of battery technology has become just as important as technological innovation itself. Beyond developing safer and more sustainable batteries, companies must also communicate their environmental impact transparently while addressing public concerns about safety, affordability, and sustainability. In this interview, Choi Ki-bong, PR Team Leader at SK On, shared how st

As the global energy transition accelerates, geophysics is playing an increasingly important role beyond traditional oil and gas exploration, supporting emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). In this interview, Lim Bo-sung, a senior geophysicist at TotalEnergies, discussed how geophysical techniques are used to identify and monitor CO2 storage sites and how new seismic survey methods are cutting the carbon footprint of exploration. First, could you te

Sustainability is becoming a central part of fashion's future as the industry works to reduce its environmental footprint. Through circular business models and recycled mateirals, brands are increasingly reshaping how clothing is designed, produced, and used. In this interview, Nam Mi-rim, PR Manager for & Other Stories at H&M Korea, discussed the company's sustainable initiatives that engage consumers in responsible consumption and the importance of circular fashion and inno

Understanding future climate change often starts from researching Earth's past through fossils preserved in ancient sediments. By investigating the history of physical sciences, fossil scientists have researched ways to track long-term environmental change and generate the data needed to improve climate models. In this interview, Kim Yong-mi, a Senior Researcher at the Korea Institute of Geoscience, shared how microscopic fossils reveal Earth's climate history and how high-qu

International cooperation is essential to ensuring that developing countries have the resources needed to adapt and build resilience against the growing threats of climate change. Beyond providing financial support, effective climate finance requires strong governance and collaboration among governments and international organizations. In this interview, Kim Se-jung at the Green Climate Fund discussed how the organization manages risk across long-term climate projects, the im

In oil refineries, a greater environmental risk than emissions lies in aging pipelines, as seawater often corrodes old pipes along ports where oil is loaded onto ships. In this interview, Sung Dae-kyung at SK Trading International's Marine Shipping department discusses the importance of operational safety, improving energy efficiency, and the role of policy in advancing sustainable fuels and a lower-carbon future. Could you tell us about the work you’re currently doing? Our c

The growing pressure to balance sustainability with economic competitiveness among industries have pushed the chemical sector to navigate ways to balance profitability and policy with environmental responsibility. Despite changing market conditions, innovation in recycling and circular economy technologies continues to shape the chemical industry's long-term direction. In this interview, Koo Bon-woong, a new business development professional at LG Chem, shared insights to eme

AI-driven coding tools are often discussed in terms of productivity, yet there is an overlooked shift occuring in the servers, cooling systems, and idle infrastructure that cloud migration and automated scheduling are increasing efficiency. In this interview, Lim Yong-jun of SK AX discussed how moving from in-house servers to the cloud has cut energy waste from underused infrastructure and how IT infrastructure can build more sustainable AI. First, could you tell us about the

As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, batteries have become an essential technology of the net-zero economy. Indeed, the battery industry is rapidly evolving through circular economy initiatives and changing government policies. In this interview, Song kun-ho, a market intelligence professional at LG Energy Solution, discussed the future of the battery industry, the role of policy in shaping market strategy, and how innovation and recycling will contribute to

For a company whose core business inherently produces carbon emissions, there's a structural limit to how green its image can ever look despite leading many sustainability initiatives. In this interview, Kim Young-seop at SK Innovation's PR Marketing discussed the company's recent investment in LNG, batteries, and renewables, and broader social efforts to support environmental startups. Since SK Innovation is, after all, an oil refining and petrochemical company, could you ex

Companies have every incentive to make themselves look greener than they actually are, and little incentive to expose less presentable facts. Such gap in ESG reporting is addressed by a third-party verification. In this interview, Cha Geun from Jungin Accounting Corporation discussed how accounting firms verify sustainability reports in Korea and why measuring indirect emissions across a company's entire supply chain remains a largely unsolved problem. Companies are increasin

Through mass protests, viral campaigns, and policy lobbying, climate movements have often spoken to people who are already paying attention. However, a durable change may depend on reaching people who are indifferent, which starts with approaching their communities, social media feeds, and even across the political aisle. In this interview, climate organization Together for Our Homeland's Media Director Jang Eun-suk discussed the group's grassroots approach to climate action