FROM: Daesung Group

Younghoon David Kim 
Drives Discussions on Asia-Pacific Climate Change

[Feb 23, 2010] Younghoon David Kim, Daesung Group chairman and WEC (World Energy Council) Regional Vice Chair for Asia-Pacific and South Asia, chaired the WEC Asia Regional Meeting in New Zealand on February 23, 2010. At this meeting, delegates from about two dozen nations in the Asia-Pacific region participated in discussions on a variety of issues including responses to climate change and a planned WEC Asia Energy Summit in June in Beijing. A progress report on the 2013 World Energy Congress in Daegu was given also. The year’s first meeting in Wellington was highly significant because the organization’s official position after COP-15 was discussed.

Chairman Kim also give a keynote entitled “WEC’s View on Copenhagen, Achieving the 3 A’s and the China-India Initiative” at the WEC-EFNZ Conference roundtable meeting, preceding the WEC Asia Regional Meeting. Chair Kim reiterated WEC’s official position that “a response to climate change should put priority on international cooperation, sustainable energy prices, and energy efficiency.”  He also focused on ▲transparency to allow for adequate investments ▲a market-based international coordination mechanism ▲a predictable carbon price to steer the most effective technology choices and ▲the enabling of technology innovation and technology transfer by complementary policies and incentives. In relation to this, the Korean government’s voluntary carbon reduction efforts and plans to bid for 2012 UN Climate Change Conference were also touched upon.

Chairman Kim noted “we had a wide ranging discussion on COP-15 and its aftermath as well as valuable input on our preparations for hosting the World Energy Congress in 2013.”

WEC is the world's foremost multi-energy organization, with member committees in almost 100 countries. Membership consists of energy policy experts, industry representatives, and specialists from related institutions. Since 2005 Chairman Kim has served as WEC’s Vice Chair for Asia-Pacific and South Asia--a region which encompasses 23 member countries including Korea, Japan, and Australia.