The 10th Annual United States – Republic of Korea (ROK) Energy Security Dialogue took place at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston, Texas from April 29 to May 1, 2024. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in various energy-related areas.
During the dialogue, it was noted that Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine's energy systems have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region. The United States welcomed the Republic of Korea as a new member of the G7+ Energy Coordination Group, emphasizing the importance of reducing dependency on Russian energy.
Both countries highlighted the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, with a commitment to keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius. They recognized the significance of deploying renewable and nuclear energy rapidly to meet the goals of the Paris agreement.
The United States and the ROK emphasized the need to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 while ensuring energy security. They pledged to accelerate the deployment of various carbon-free technologies, including renewables, nuclear power, and hydrogen derivatives.
Furthermore, the two nations stressed the importance of collaboration between governments and the private sector to accelerate emissions reductions and achieve energy security and decarbonization globally. They reiterated their commitment to implementing the Global Methane Pledge and developing a consensus-based approach for measuring greenhouse gas emissions.
Both countries also discussed the importance of deploying clean energy technologies, such as offshore wind, to achieve ambitious deployment targets. They highlighted the role of clean hydrogen in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and expressed the hope that investments in clean energy technologies would drive down costs for other nations.
In conclusion, the United States and the Republic of Korea expressed their satisfaction with the Energy Security Dialogue, particularly the productive discussions with private sector participants, and look forward to convening again at a senior level in 2025.
