Government "Accelerating Carbon Neutrality with AI"... Discussion on Public-Private Cooperation Measures

Diplejeongwi, Tannokwi and Ministry of Science and ICT Conference
UNIST and Naver Cloud Keynote Speeches
Introduction of Carbon Reduction Efforts Using AI

The government and the private sector have begun full-scale discussions on ways to accelerate carbon neutrality using artificial intelligence (AI).

Chairman Ko Jin of the Presidential Digital Platform Government Committee. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

The Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government, together with the 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee (Tan Nokwi) and the Ministry of Science and ICT, held the 'AI-based Green Digital Transformation Conference' on the 29th.

Held at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul, this conference was a follow-up to the 'Measures to Promote Carbon Neutrality through Digital Transformation' announced by Tan Nokwi last November. It was promoted based on cooperation plans discussed at the Pan-Government Digital Carbon Neutrality General Council in February.

Lee Yong-hoon, President of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), and Ha Jung-woo, Head of Naver Cloud Innovation Center, spoke in keynote lectures about whether AI can be a solution to achieve carbon neutrality.

The presenters emphasized ▲focused investment in AI and carbon neutrality technology development and demonstration ▲establishment of AI standards ▲building an ecosystem among AI services, startups, and industries.

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT / Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Additionally, representatives from SK Telecom, GS Caltex, and Samsung Electronics introduced efforts to reduce carbon emissions using AI in telecommunications, refining, and manufacturing sectors. Discussions also covered AI adoption consulting POCs to minimize risks when introducing super-large-scale AI in the public sector, such as fire prediction and smart intersections.

There is a need to develop and internalize low-power, high-efficiency, and practical semiconductor technologies dedicated to generative AI services, as well as to establish trustworthy AI risk management platforms.

Ko Jin, Chairperson of the Digital Platform Government Committee, said, "We will strive to revitalize the AI industry ecosystem through the introduction of super-large-scale AI in the public sector," adding, "We will actively respond to European environmental regulatory issues through close cooperation with related ministries."

Kim Sang-hyup, Chairperson of Tan Nokwi, stated, "For example, Google uses 15% of its total energy consumption solely for machine learning, so the enormous electricity consumption involved in AI utilization is another challenge," but added, "Korea has the capability to accelerate carbon neutrality through AI and believes it should lead this effort."

Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "AI technology will be a game-changing technology to solve the climate crisis, the most critical problem humanity currently faces," and added, "I hope this conference will serve as an opportunity to open a new path to respond to the climate crisis using AI."

Based on the opinions gathered at the conference, the government plans to continue pan-government discussions and promote follow-up measures for technology development, industry-wide expansion, and regulatory responses for AI-based green digital transformation.