(Photo 1) The inaugural ceremony for the Green Hydrogen Forum 

“2050 Carbon Neutral Challenge, Green Hydrogen Forum Established”

A private-centered forum has been launched to support the Korean government’s clean energy policies, such as carbon neutrality, hydrogen economy, and the Green New Deal.

On February 2, 2021 (Tuesday), the inaugural ceremony of the 2021 Green Hydrogen Forum was held, which involved environmental organizations, the National Assembly, industry, academia, and research officials, and civic groups.

The Green Hydrogen Forum was established as a follow-up measure of the First Hydrogen Economic Committee (July 20) to revitalize the industrial ecosystem and expand the receptivity of the public. On this day, the inaugural general meeting was held simultaneously as an online live broadcasting and an offline event to inform the public of the need and role of hydrogen economy and green hydrogen for fulfilling carbon neutrality.

About 40 industry, academia, and research officials attended the event, including Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Chairman of Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee Lee Hak-young, former Minister of Commerce Industry and Energy Lee Hee-beom, and Chairman of Korea Green Foundation Choi Yeol.

Prior to the inaugural general meeting of the Green Hydrogen Forum, a pre-ceremony forum was held under the theme of ‘The role of hydrogen economy for our society to become carbon-neutral in 2050.’ Lectures were presented under the themes of ? the role of carbon neutrality and hydrogen economy, ? the current situation of hydrogen economy seen through big data, ? the global hydrogen mobility status and strategy, and ? Germany’s green hydrogen revitalization policy.

The direction of the forum’s formation and operation was confirmed through the following preliminary general meeting, and a total of 42 people including co-chairmen and members were appointed. The former Minister of Commerce Industry and Energy Lee Hee-beom and the Chairman of Korea Green Foundation Choi Yeol were appointed as co-chairmen, and the appointed members consist of experts in various fields, including the National Assembly (5 members), research institute (8 members), industry (13 members), NGO (1 member), academia (11 members), and advisory (2 members)

In the future, the forum will discuss formulating and proposing private-level initiatives to revitalize hydrogen economy, focusing on carbon-neutral promotion measures such as expanding green hydrogen.

It plans to suggest directions and evaluate policies at the private level, formulate implementation tasks for each field, and prepare supplementary measures through general meetings (twice a year) and planning sessions (four times a year) that focus on ? proposals of private opinions such as policy direction and strategy, ? proposals of improvement direction of field difficulties (regulations, etc.), and ? support for the establishment of systems and infrastructures to improve receptivity

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who attended the inaugural general meeting, said “As the final destination of Korea’s hydrogen economy is ‘Green Hydrogen,’ the government will accelerate the realization of green hydrogen so that we can achieve the great transition to ‘Hydrogen Power Korea.’” He added, “I hope everyone here today at the forum will become strong conductors with creative ideas and collective intelligence. I look forward to the establishment of the Green Hydrogen Forum to be a new vitality for hydrogen economic development around the world.