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As an extension to our previous Case Study article on Slovenia's model path to sustainability, we interviewed none other than the H.E. Ambassador Jerenj Müller at the Slovenian Embassy of Seoul, who embodies knowledge and diplomacy about climate change and sustainable solutions.  This comprehensive and meaningful discussion with the Ambassador allowed us a chance to learn deeper about Slovenia's diplomatic efforts to contribute to the world's journey to net-zero, as well as t

The current wave of competent researchers, business leaders, and climate activists commonly look up to one group of people—the future leaders who tackle climate change. One individual who cultivates such aspiring future climate leaders is Min Bae-hyeon, a professor at Ewha University.  This extensive fruitful discussion with Professor Min provided substantive insights into the uniqueness of his Climate and Energy Systems Engineering Department and its wide-ranging application

Along the similar lines of CCS and batteries, the energy storage system (ESS) is another prominent strategy for the world to gradually transition into eco-friendly energy usage. One company specializing in the development of ESS is SK Innovation E&S, and Team Leader of Renewable Energy, Bae Min-su, shared with us the company's progress. His responses about current challenges, ESG rating, and government policies, shed light to the complexities of ESS business and its importanc

Despite the pressing challenges of climate change and the rapidly approaching deadline for the 2035 NDC, Korea is still fraught with the rising demand for power generation. In light of the recent farmers' lawsuit against KEPCO for environmental damages, carbon emissions caused by coal power plants remains as a pressing issue for Korea's journey to net zero. One major contributor to carbon emissions from power generation is SK Hynix, a company that significantly relies on ener

Our previous discussions with battery researcher Shin Kyung-soo delved into the vital role that batteries play in creating systems that can efficiently store renewable energy. This interview with Lee Seung-yong at the LG Chem technology research lab expanded on the importance of batteries as an innovative solution to net-zero. Lee described how the battery technology is being invested and developed on the company level through LG Chem's strategy of battery process optimizatio

Beyond CCS, another unique method to undo the ever-increasing carbon emissions is CO₂ conversion. One researcher investigating such unique and innovative climate strategy is Won Da-hye at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). She provided insights into the noteworthy effectiveness of CO₂ conversion, its application to businesses, as well as future opportunities in the technology's advancement. I heard that your uncle mentioned you’re researching CO₂ conversion cat

With the pressing challenges of climate issues, its connection to humanity at different societal levels is becoming increasingly clear. A student studying such connections at Universiity of California Berkeley, Heewon Kim, shared how she approaches climate change from a college student's perspective. From class experiences to societal impact, Heewon described how she learns and pursues sustainability in her college life. What made you choose your major of Society and Environm

Beyond renewable energy and CCS, climate action also starts from venture capitalist firms that make sustainable businesses financially viable. Venture Capitalist Cho Kang-hee, founder and CEO of an Investment firm Xquared, offered perspectives on how investments for ESG companies work, and future hopes for investments that contribute to netzero. Could you please start by introducing your company? We are a company called Xquared, an investment firm. In Korea, there are license

To balance the rising human demand for energy and our responsibility to achieve net zero, battery researchers play a large role in improving sustainability and efficiency of batteries. One such researcher is Shin Kyung-soo, who shared how efficient batteries take steps toward net zero and its key role in collaboration with existing renewable energy systems. What specific field are you currently researching? I research the materials that go into battery composition, including

On late nights, residents head to their apartment’s recycling station, carrying boxes of bottles, cans, and food waste. One neighbor rinses a plastic bottle at the sink; another peels a label off before tossing it into the bin. In South Korea, this scene plays out with daily strict rules and clearly labeled bins that make recycling an ingrained habit. But how much of what we put in those bins is truly recycled, and is it enough to help the environment?In theory, recycling is

As the most promising strategy to reduce carbon emissions, renewable energy continues to gain the most attention and investments. Behind the growth of renewable energy is the combined effort of researchers who develop technology, governments that create regulatory policies, and companies that invest in large-scale projects to run renewable energy power.  A business with a unique strategy of investing in overseas renewable energy projects is none other than Samsung C&T. Ji San

We previously talked to Ji Sunghoon at SK Earthon, who spoke about companies' perspectives on the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. But CCS is not solely utilizied by companies, as it is the scientists and researchers who first investigate and improve the technology.  To get insights about CCS from the researchers' perspective, we spoke to Park Jaesung, a senior researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT). Park is a part of the Green C

When thinking of the concept of renewable energy, one would imagine a wide array of shiny solar panels glinting on rooftops. But beyond these familiar arrays lies a smaller, more compact technology called photovoltaic solar cells, Though less visible in everyday life, this rapidly advancing field promotes a promising future of sustainable and efficient energy consumption. In today's interview we spoke with Chung Jaehoon, a researcher at University of Toledo's Wright Center fo

While climate change is a global crisis applicable to anywhere in the world, what different places teach and take action about climate change can be different. To gain a better insight about such differences, we interviewed students around the world: Vidya Nagar from Massachussets, USA; Angela Philip from Dubai, UAE; Nia Bolton from Illinois, USA; and Anna Schubert from St. Pölten, Austria. When was the last time you remember learning about the climate crisis at school, and i

At this time of the increasing magnitude of the climate action agenda following the International Court of Justice ruling, one may come to wonder what sustainability efforts really  work for nations. Beyond ambitious goals and global agreements, what are the proven feasible and effective strategies to approach climate action? While each nation's climate policies are subject to differ due to economic, social, and geographic circumstances, taking a close look at Slovenia's sust

Environmental justice is an essential concept that must be considered in climate action to ensure disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities can build stronger resilience to climate change-induced threats. Major Eason is a PhD student of Sociology at Harvard University who is conducting research on the impact of racial dynamics on the climate crisis in the US. Through this conversation, Major described the importance of considering the social costs of climate change a

Started as a means to achieve net zero in greenhouse gas emissions, the newly constructed road between Cambridge and Huntingdon turned out as an environmental disaster on July 5. National Highways, the government-owned company that constructs and manages England’s roads, initially claimed that the environmental state of the neighborhood would significantly improve after the road was built, promising a net gain in biodiversity to counterbalance the carbon dioxide emissions in

Corporate accountability is one of the most important steps toward the journey toward a net zero future. While relying on environmentally responsible practices from corporations can drive progress, it is yet far from foolproof. In 2015, Volkswagen advertised its cars as “clean diesel,” claiming they met strict emission standards. This branding helped them sell millions of cars around the world. However, it was later revealed that Volkswagen had installed software to cheat emi

C02gether interviewed Oh Byung-ho, member of the Presidential Committee on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth. He is also an active member of the Gangwon-do Environmental Education Promotion Committee, and has founded the nonprofit environmental organization "Big Wave," as well as the Korean ESG Society. From his expertise on the emission trading system (ETS) to potential policy changes, Oh shared us insights into the current implementation and future trajectories of the ETS.