Kim Kyungsoo and Mayor Katrin Sternfeld Jamme of Malmo Hold Meeting on the 17th
Kim: "Climate Policy Also Impacts the Economy... Crucial for Export-Driven Korea"
On AI Energy Issues... Stresses Renewable Energy Over Nuclear Power
Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo met with Katrin Sternfeld Jamme, the mayor of Malm?, Sweden, who led the transition to an eco-friendly city, to explore the direction of green policies that South Korea, a manufacturing powerhouse, should pursue amid the climate crisis.
On the 17th, former Governor Kim met with Mayor Katrin Sternfeld Jamme of Malm?, Sweden, at Ilsan Seo-gu Office in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, for a discussion on carbon reduction and the role of local governments. Mayor Jamme is the president of the Global Network of Local Governments and a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, a progressive political party.
Malm?, Sweden, has transformed into an eco-friendly city through industrial transition amid the climate crisis. According to former Governor Kim, Malm? converted an old shipyard site into Malm? University and developed the surrounding area into a core startup ecosystem, attracting young population inflow. Mayor Jamme added, "Efforts to build urban infrastructure and improve energy efficiency are ongoing," and explained, "Currently, more focus is placed on education, and unlike in the 1990s, over 40% of the population is under 29 years old."
When Kim asked Mayor Jamme about the role of the central government in fostering local cities like Malm?, Mayor Jamme replied, "It is necessary to establish regulations such as loans to enable a sequential green transition," and added, "(Malm?) has been discussing with the central government on a broad scale, including infrastructure, waste management, water quality control, and urban planning to incorporate green transition."
After the meeting, former Governor Kim told reporters, "Regardless of the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam region, South Korea has not been properly responding to climate change since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office," and said, "Plans established during the Moon Jae-in administration were either scrapped or, in some cases, the transition to renewable energy has even regressed."
He continued, "The climate economy is not simply an environmental issue but also an industrial and economic issue. For countries like ours with an export-oriented industrial structure, carbon border taxes and RE100 product regulations can act as export barriers," and added, "As the leader of Malm?, which has successfully led the climate economy transition for 12 years since 2013, the shared experiences will be of great help."
Regarding the rapid increase in electricity consumption due to the artificial intelligence (AI) transition, former Governor Kim emphasized renewable energy over nuclear power for energy production. He said, "I do not think nuclear power is the only solution for energy measures during the AI transition process," and added, "We need to significantly increase renewable energy while reducing and slowing down nuclear power." He further noted, "Since nuclear power already accounts for a large share in our country, that pace is sufficient."
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