SFOC CEO Joojin Kim noted that the organization focuses on energy transition in East Asia and sees strong potential in offshore wind (Photo: Carol Chen)
Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC), an Asia-based climate NGO, established an office in Taiwan this year. Its CEO Joojin Kim visited the central and local government entities in early May to lay a groundwork for upcoming climate actions across East Asia.
A former corporate lawyer, Kim left a stable legal career in 2016 to establish the organization. Under his leadership, SFOC has successfully persuaded the South Korean government to halt coal financing and completed the country’s first youth-led climate lawsuit. SFOC specializes in stakeholder engagement and regularly publishes research reports with a science-based approach. Amid the global climate crisis, Kim believes that people are at the heart of every solution.
From law to climate action: A path of environmental advocacy
Kim has been committed to environmental protection since his university days, when he actively participated in environmental movements and even founded a student environmental group. To deepen his knowledge of environment, Kim earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s in environmental studies from Seoul National University. He later pursued further education in the U.S., obtaining a master’s degree in environmental law from Georgia State University College of Law, building a unique blend of legal expertise and international perspective.
After returning to South Korea, Kim spent ten years working as a lawyer at Kim & Chang, the country’s largest law firm. During that time, he participated in international climate conferences such as COP and had the opportunity to closely observe how NGOs in US and European operate. For the reason he founded SFOC, Kim put it simply: “I just wanted to give it a try, because if I didn’t, I knew I’d regret it.”
At that time, coal-fired power made up 30% of South Korea’s energy mix. Recognizing that fossil fuel is one of the major causes of climate change, Kim felt a strong sense of responsibility to take action.
Halting coal financing and winning Korea’s first youth climate lawsuit
SFOC was founded with a clear mission, which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by targeting carbon-intensive industries such as coal, gas and steel.
One of SFOC’s most significant achievements came four years ago, when it successfully pushed the South Korean government to halt coal financing. Through extensive communication with journalists, government officials and fellow organizations, SFOC raised awareness of risks associated with coal investment.
“Earning public trust requires credible research,” Kim emphasized, “and maintaining that credibility is essential for real impact.”
SFOC pushed the Korean government to halt coal financing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Image: iStock)
SFOC’s climate efforts often involve international collaboration. One notable example is the Barossa natural gas project in Australia, where SFOC has partnered with local indigenous communities to urge the South Korean government, public financial institutions, and participating companies to withdraw their investments in natural gas.
Another prominent case dates back to 2020, when South Korea’s state-owned utility Kepco faced backlash for investing in four coal power plants in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and South Africa, actions that ran counter to the Korean government’s Green New Deal and its pledge to end coal financing. With growing pressure from domestic and international stakeholders, and advocacy efforts led by SFOC, Kepco ultimately committed to no longer pursuing new overseas coal projects.
The most iconic milestone came on Aug. 29, 2024, when South Korea completed Asia’s first youth-led climate lawsuit with support from SFOC. The Constitutional Court ruled that the country’s Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality was unconstitutional, stating that its failure to clearly define emission reduction targets for 2031 to 2049 undermined the achievement of net-zero by 2050 and failed to protect the rights of youth and future generations.
East Asia’s energy transition: Confronting LNG dependence, unlocking offshore wind
With a growing portfolio of climate advocacy successes, SFOC is extending its support to help East Asian countries meet their net-zero targets. This year, the organization has turned its focus to Taiwan.
Kim points out that Taiwan, as a major economy, not only operates a significant number of coal-fired power plants but is also the world’s sixth-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). He emphasized that this heavy reliance on imported LNG presents a major hurdle in Taiwan’s path toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
While Taiwan has built a strong track record in offshore wind development, there’s still room for improvement on the policy front. SFOC plans to deepen its research and communication to address the challenges facing the offshore wind industry. Meanwhile, it will facilitate knowledge exchange through sharing Taiwan’s experiences with Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
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SFOC plans to deepen its research and outreach to tackle challenges in Taiwan’s offshore wind industry, while fostering knowledge exchange with Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. (Image: iStock)
Taiwan is home to some of world’s top 15 shipping companies, including Evergreen, Yang Ming, and Wan Hai Line. SFOC expects to support the sector’s transition from fossil fuel to green alternative through fostering science-based discussion and open dialogues, contributing to Taiwan’s broader effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Over the next three to five years, SFOC plans to accelerate the energy transition in East Asia, with a focus on South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Surrounded by ocean, these countries hold vast potential for offshore wind development.
“Our goal is to unlock the potential for offshore wind and help drive progress toward the 2050 net-zero target,” said Kim. Through regional collaboration, SFOC expects to support structural energy reform, expand renewables, and advance the green transformation of the shipping industry.
Achieving energy transition requires more than just natural resources. The key, Kim said, is people. “That’s why we named the organization Solutions for Our Climate,” he explained, because ultimately, people are the most important part of the solution.
Guided by this belief, SFOC is committed to recruiting top talents. The organization now has a team of more than 120 people, with about 20% coming from international backgrounds including Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Kim hopes that by bringing together a global team, SFOC can address challenges of climate change.
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