Hyundai Motor urges bold action on Energy Poverty at B20 Summit Indonesia 2022

If there is one place to discuss energy poverty, it is definitely the G20 Hyundai Motor knows this and has stepped into the limelight in Jakarta with clear ideas.

B20 Summit: Hyundai Motor Executive Chair speaks on energy poverty

In his keynote speech at the B20 Summit’s ‘Energy, Sustainability & Climate and Finance & Infrastructure’ session Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Chung said, “Now is the time for bold decisions. And now is the time for leadership.” The executive chair also referenced the climate crisis and severe energy poverty, emphasizing the need for all responsible people in global society, including governments and businesses, to work together to switch to sustainable energy solutions. Executive Chair Chung said: “The fact is that the world is facing a climate change crisis. The auto industry is rethinking energy and investing in renewable energy, but it is an endeavor that we cannot pursue alone. With commonsense solutions, government and industry can provide the right incentives to businesses and consumers to embrace clean mobility.”

Facing a big crisis

“But climate change is not the only reason to accelerate our transition to sustainable energy. The world is facing a myriad of economic challenges: the social and economic aftershocks of COVID, a global semiconductor shortage, inflation, rising interest rates and the soaring prices of raw materials.” 

Executive Chair Chung highlighted the Group’s efforts toward carbon neutrality: “We are pursuing a net-zero strategy across all our value chains, including the purchase of auto parts, vehicle manufacturing, logistics, customer use of our products and vehicle recycling. We need the strong support of global leaders who create policies that encourage investment in these new resources and technologies.”

Regarding hydrogen as a future clean energy solution, he explained: “With renewables come different challenges—including limits on supply and storage. Hydrogen can solve many of these issues. And now, there is a global consensus on the importance of hydrogen as a future, limitless, energy solution.”

“Governments and businesses must play their part and drive global change. Together, we can set the conditions to accelerate the adoption of eco-friendly solutions.”

Executive Chair Chung closed his remarks by reiterating the Group’s dedication to pursuing sustainable growth. “Hyundai Motor Group will continue to make the right moves for the right future for everyone,” he said. 

Carbon neutral strategies

Group companies Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to achieve net zero emissions throughout their entire value chains, including supply, production, logistics and disposal as well as at the use stage of automobiles, through carbon reduction and offset. To this end, Hyundai Motor and Kia will sell only electrified vehicles with no carbon emissions by 2040 in major markets, starting with Europe in 2035. In addition, four Group companies, including Hyundai Motor and Kia, joined RE100 this year. RE100 is a global initiative to bring together the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100 percent renewable electricity. The Group aims for 100 percent of its global electricity demand to be replaced by renewable energy by 2045. Full-scale efforts are already underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon from manufacturing processes, by increasing the use of renewables, such as solar and wind power. The Group’s companies are actively introducing solar power generation systems to domestic and overseas production facilities, while various new technologies, such as improved carbon capture and recycling, are being applied to reduce carbon emissions. The eco-friendly low-carbon method to achieve RE100 is also applied to the Group’s Metaplant in Georgia, U.S., which had a groundbreaking ceremony in October. It is designed to generate electricity through solar panels installed on the roof and apply it via energy storage systems (ESS).

SUSTAINABILITY ALSO IN THE AIR

The Group’s Indonesia plant, which was completed earlier this year, was also built to minimize carbon emissions through air pollution reduction methods, such as solar power generation facilities. The Group’s Slovakia plant has been operating on 100 percent renewable energy since 2019 and its Czech plant is doing the same starting in 2022. In the mid- to long-term, the Group plans to strive for cooperation in the production of green hydrogen (HERE find the partnership with Ineos), which has been dubbed the ultimate eco-friendly energy thanks to the complete lack greenhouse gas emissions during production. It plans to use it as a major energy source at business sites in the future. The Group has also set ‘The Right Move for the Right Future’ as its social responsibility management message in support of various efforts for the environment, global communities and future generations.