Climatus College Drawing Climate Solutions with AI and Data – SGI Youth+ 4th Cohort Graduation
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The Climate Change Center, together with SGI Seoul Guarantee, held the graduation ceremony of SGI Youth+ (Sustainable Green Impact for Youth+) 4th cohort on September 26. This year’s program was particularly meaningful as young participants brought the climate crisis out of abstract discourse and into the realities of everyday life, experimenting with solutions through the use of AI and public data. By analyzing practical issues such as urban heat islands, single-use plastics, and climate risks faced by vulnerable groups, and by advancing their ideas into tangible prototypes through no-code tools, they clearly demonstrated the message that “climate leadership is the fusion of scientific data analysis and creative action.”
At the ceremony, the youth participants shared not only their project outcomes but also the new mindset they had gained in defining problems and interpreting data. Director General Ji-won Choi emphasized, “The very process of developing climate solutions in the language and perspective of youth marks the starting point of a true transition.”
Looking ahead, the Climate Change Center and SGI Seoul Guarantee will continue to support young people in strengthening their capacity for data-driven, scientific thinking and in leading climate action rooted in everyday life, ensuring that the achievements of this program expand beyond individual growth to generate broader social impact.
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Policy Field RE:VIEW Garden Cities : A New Paradigm for Climate Adaptation |
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On September 23, the Climate Change Center, together with the Garden City Forum, held the First Seminar on Garden Cities in the Era of Climate Crisis to discuss a Korean model of garden cities linking climate action with urban policy.
The seminar redefined gardens and urban forests as core infrastructure for climate adaptation and sought integrated solutions across legislation, finance, and governance.
It was emphasized that gardens and urban forests are not mere landscaping, but a foundation for strengthening community and ecosystem resilience and supporting a carbon-neutral society. Experts highlighted decentralized green space development, citizen participation, data-driven management, and improvements in legal and financial frameworks. The UK’s Biodiversity Net Gain system was also introduced, stressing the need for international alignment.
Discussions underscored the importance of sound legal and institutional foundations, use of local ecological and cultural assets, and inclusive policies for vulnerable groups. Participants agreed on the need to integrate climate, biodiversity, and urban planning to establish garden cities as practical, citizen-centered carbon-neutral models.
The Climate Change Center confirmed concrete approaches to position gardens and urban forests as adaptation infrastructure, and will work with local governments, civil society, and the private sector to expand implementation and shape a new paradigm in urban policy.
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Carbon Market Brief Global Corporates and Korea, A New Trend in Carbon Markets |
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The voluntary carbon market is gaining momentum as global leaders step up climate action. Netflix has partnered with the American Forest Foundation to restore 75,000 acres of U.S. forests and generate 4.8 million carbon credits by 2032, advancing its 2030 net-zero target. Through emission reductions, renewable energy use, and investments in nature-based solutions—including the purchase of 1.03 million tons of high-quality credits in 2024—Netflix is positioning the entertainment industry as an active player in sustainability.
At the same time, Xpansiv, the world’s largest carbon market infrastructure provider, is expanding into Asia through collaborations with the Korea Exchange (KRX) and NH Investment & Securities. These partnerships cover voluntary carbon trading, Paris Agreement Article 6 mechanisms, and CORSIA compliance, while enhancing access to renewable energy certificates. By leveraging Xpansiv’s CBL exchange for transparent pricing and liquidity, South Korea is poised to emerge as a hub for Asia’s voluntary carbon markets.
Together, these developments underscore how culture and finance are converging to drive sustainability leadership, positioning Korea as a key player in the global shift toward low-carbon growth.
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New Highlight An Evening in Support Climate Change Center celebrating the 17th Anniversary |
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Climate change and biodiversity loss are not separate issues but interconnected “twin crises.” Biodiversity serves as the city’s last line of defense against heatwaves, floods, and air pollution, while also underpinning public health and resilience. At the same time, biodiversity has become a new axis of financial risk and opportunity. With more than half of global GDP dependent on nature, ecosystem collapse directly translates into supply chain disruptions, rising raw material costs, and declining asset values. International financial institutions are responding through forest and coral conservation initiatives and biodiversity funds, while in Korea, KB Financial Group is leading with TNFD-based disclosures and pioneering nature-based solutions such as the “K-Bee Project” and the “Sea Forest Project.”
The next challenge is to connect ecosystem data generated in climate adaptation policies with the TNFD disclosures of the financial sector. When biodiversity is managed jointly by policy and markets, wetland restoration or green space expansion can evolve from public goods into investment assets. In the era of climate crisis, biodiversity is no longer merely an environmental concern but a core asset that determines urban safety, corporate survival, and financial stability. Reframing biodiversity as a bridge between adaptation and finance is the most realistic and sustainable path we can choose for the future. |
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On August 18, Chairman Jai-chul Choi met with the Slovenian Ambassador to Korea to explore cooperation on climate action, digital carbon reduction, biodiversity, and cultural initiatives. The meeting laid the groundwork for broad-based collaboration beyond climate response alone. Learn more
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On September 9, Chairman Jai-chul Choi attended an international forum in Taipei, signing a climate cooperation agreement with Taiwan’s National Environmental Research Academy (NERA) and emphasizing the importance of adaptation. The visit strengthened the foundation for broader East Asian climate collaboration. Learn more
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Even a small gesture can help create a healthier planet.
Donation Account : Woori Bank 1005-901-949649
Account Holder : Climate Change Center
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Climate Change Center
T. 02-766-4351 | E. info@climatechangecenter.kr
Address : No. 306, Bldg 1, 22, Teheran-ro 7-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea, 06130
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