Kim Sung-woo

Securing clean technologies is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. The return of President Donald Trump — who pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement and halted clean technology initiatives on his first day in office, along with the global dependence on China for affordable clean technologies, has increased uncertainty regarding the sustainability of environmental policies and their economic reliability. Nevertheless, countries around the world have continued to implement various clean industry policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions while ensuring economic stability.

In July 2024, China announced the Plan on Accelerating Economic and Social Development and Comprehensive Green Transition as its blueprint for a low-carbon future. The plan outlines China’s commitment to advancing a green economy and projects that the size of its eco-friendly industry will reach 2,850 trillion won by 2030, with non-fossil energy accounting for 25 percent of total energy consumption.

In fact, China has completed some of its goals well ahead of schedule. The country met its solar and wind power supply target six years earlier than planned and is on track to achieve its electric vehicle sales target this year, a full 10 years ahead of the original 2035 deadline. Central to this success is China’s commitment to utilizing clean technology. The country holds a dominant share in many clean technology sectors globally: more than 80 percent of solar panels in the global market are produced in China, and the world’s top two lithium-ion........

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