Ending Coal, Financing the Future: Advancing a Just Energy Transition through Policies and Partnerships

​A global shift from fossil fuels to clean energy is underway. However, coal remains one of the most persistent barriers to achieving global climate goals. To align with the Paris Agreement, unabated coal power must be phased out by 2030 in advanced economies, which requires governments and investors to commit to early and orderly coal phase-out strategies while mobilizing capital toward clean energy alternatives.

​In Asia, coal continues to dominate power systems and financing flows, but innovative mechanisms are emerging to close the ambition–implementation gap. Among them, transition credits, linking early coal retirement to carbon markets and international finance, offer a potential pathway to attract private investment while maintaining environmental integrity and social fairness. Such mechanisms will be key for countries like Korea to drive regional cooperation and lead credible, finance-driven transition pathways.

​💡 Roundtable & Fireside Chat

​🗣️ Speakers:
Welcome I: Boyoung Kang – Director of International Climate and Energy Cooperation, Korea
Welcome II: Sophie Westlake – Deputy Director for International Energy Transition, United Kingdom
Keynote speech: Benedict Chia – Director General for Climate Change, National Climate Change Secretariat, Singapore

​Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Joojin Kim – Chief Executive Officer, SFOC
Odkhuu Durzee – Primary Advisor to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Mongolia
Michael O. Sinocruz, Director, Energy Policy and Planning Bureau, Philippines
Julia Skorupska – Head of Secretariat, Powering Past Coal Alliance
Nat Keohane – President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
Xing Zhang – Senior Specialist, AIIB’s Sectors, Themes and Finance Solutions Department

​Closing Remarks: Sanghyup Kim – Director General, GGGI