WASHINGTON (May 17, 2021)—South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit the White House on Friday, May 21, for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden. The White House said the meeting will highlight the two countries’ “ironclad alliance” and Moon’s press secretary confirmed the meeting will cover a range of issues including responding to global challenges like climate change.   

One of the bright spots at the U.S.-hosted Leaders Summit on Climate last month was a pledge from South Korea to halt financing for new overseas coal plants. This sent a strong signal to the world – especially Japan and China – that the era of funding dirty fossil fuels is over.    

At the Leaders Summit, the U.S., Japan and Canada announced strengthened 2030 emissions-reduction targets aligned with their 2050 net-zero commitments. South Korea now has an opportunity to take that important step as well. Almost immediately following President Moon’s visit to Washington, the next global moment for South Korea to unveil a 2030 target aligned with the country's 2050 net-zero emissions goal is the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, May 30-31. 

On Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30pm EDT / May 20 at 8:30am KST, journalists are invited to a media briefing hosted by World Resources Institute on opportunities for South Korea to demonstrate its climate leadership during President Moon’s White House visit and other forthcoming global moments.

First we will hear from Governor Won Hee-ryong of Jeju Province and Governor Jay Inslee of Washington State. Then South Korean and global experts will discuss and answer questions about what the Moon-Biden meeting might yield, South Korea’s considerations in adopting a new 2030 emissions-reduction target, and how South Korea will benefit from an ambitious commitment.    

WHAT 

Press call on opportunities for South Korea to demonstrate its climate leadership during President Moon’s White House visit and upcoming global moments.  

WHEN 

Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30pm EDT / May 20 at 8:30am KST 

WHO 

Speakers: 

  • Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, Republic of Korea
  • Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State, U.S.    
  • Eubin KANG, Youth Climate Emergency Action   
  • Helen Mountford, Vice President of Climate and Economics, World Resources Institute   
  • Woong Hwan (Paul) Ryu, Executive VP, Head of the SV Innovation Center, SK Telecom, Korea   

Respondents (Available for Q&A): 

  • Joojin Kim, Managing Director, Solutions for Our Climate  
  • David Waskow, International Climate Director, World Resources Institute 

Moderator:  

  • Michael Oko, Communications Director, World Resources Institute 

To RSVP, please register here:  https://wri.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dplj629HQB-4F1_0UNYX-Q  

For questions email Lauren Zelin or Mansie Hough.