Climate Change Center

Greetings,
I am Choi Jai-chul,
Chairman of the Climate Change Center.

Founded in 2008 as South Korea’s first non-governmental organization dedicated to addressing climate change, the Climate Change Center now celebrates its 17th anniversary. First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support and encouragement on this journey toward climate action.

The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement. While this historic accord has galvanized countries worldwide into recognizing the urgency of climate action, achieving the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2100 remains an elusive target. The ever-escalating global average temperatures and the increasing frequency of climate disasters call for immediate and intensified action. Adding to these challenges, the complex interplay of geopolitical uncertainties and crises has further complicated the global response.

Domestically, public awareness and interest in climate change have significantly risen over the past decade, spurring the development of new policies and systems spearheaded by the government and National Assembly. Yet, these efforts still fall short of expectations. Moreover, the advent of the AI era, the operation of massive data centers, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution driven by IT demand a robust transition to carbon-neutral energy infrastructure.

Amid these global and domestic shifts in climate action, the Climate Change Center has broadened its scope through diverse initiatives. These include organizing Climate Leadership Programs for key figures across various sectors, hosting seminars and forums to explore policy alternatives through public-private cooperation, supporting local governments in achieving carbon neutrality, collaborating with industries on greenhouse gas reduction projects in developing countries, participating in UN Climate Change Conferences, and fostering partnerships with international NGOs. Additionally, we have successfully operated Climatus College, a youth climate and environmental platform, to empower the younger generation to learn about climate issues and engage in meaningful dialogues with older generations.

To further encourage and amplify climate action, the Climate Change Center established the Climate Change Grand Leaders Award, recognizing organizations and individuals playing leading roles in addressing climate challenges. Through these efforts, we have steadily strengthened partnerships and promoted impactful initiatives.

Now more than ever, we are committed to addressing the climate crisis with a sense of urgency and innovation. The Climate Change Center will advocate for the government to achieve the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets and to set ambitious yet achievable goals for the 2035 NDC. We will actively provide viable policy alternatives while fostering open communication channels with academia, industry, and other key stakeholders. Furthermore, we aim to transcend our current boundaries by building cooperative networks with international NGOs and promoting mutual growth and collaboration.

Finally, we aspire to be a trusted partner that fosters open dialogue and meaningful collaboration with the government, National Assembly, local governments, academia, industry, and all other stakeholders.

We sincerely hope you will continue to support and join us on this journey toward climate resilience and sustainability. Together, we can create lasting solutions for a better future.

Thank you.