The Global Climate Avengers Program, a representative extracurricular program of the Climate Change Response Project Team at Kookmin University, successfully completed a 7-night, 10-day journey titled “UNEP Kenya” from June 23 to July 2 this year. The program included workshops at the UNEP headquarters in Kenya and the Wangari Maathai Institute, as well as an international workshop in collaboration with local students at the Maasai Mara National Park and Middle East University in Dubai. This itinerary provided practical learning opportunities rooted in the local context of each region. Based on their understanding of the region, the 10 students who were selected after submitting proposals went beyond a simple visit to witness and discuss international environmental governance and community-based sustainability practices firsthand, reaffirming the importance of global solidarity and the role of youth in addressing climate change.

■ UNEP

UNEP The visit to the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi was one of the core components of the program. Participants visited the UNEP headquarters within the UN Nairobi Office Complex, touring the conference hall where the UN Environment Assembly, attended by 193 countries, is held, as well as key workspaces.

On site, they received an introduction to the background of UNEP's establishment, the components of the international environmental regime, and the implementation structure of multilateral environmental agreements, gaining an institutional understanding of how global environmental cooperation systems actually operate. Additionally, through in-depth discussions on the symbolic significance and institutional foundation of UNEP, participants gained a concrete experience of the role of international organizations, their decision-making structures, and implementation mechanisms. Kang Sae-han (Russian and Eurasian Studies, 22) said that the subsequent dialogue with Korean staff members of UNON (United Nations Office at Nairobi) provided valuable motivation and direction for students who dream of working for an international organization.

■ Wangari Maathai Center

The visit to the Wangari Maathai Institute was a core component of the field-based learning program, with participants taking part in a total of eight lectures and discussion sessions. The session topics covered a wide range of issues, including Kenya's current climate and environmental status, gender and climate justice, climate finance, and the connection between agriculture and climate, all within the context of Kenya's regional circumstances and global issues. The sessions were led by local professors. In particular, by highlighting not only the institutional differences between Korea and Kenya but also the cultural differences surrounding climate discourse, participants had the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and expand their critical thinking. The two-day workshop was not just a series of lectures but also included free-flowing questions and discussions, serving as a platform for mutual learning beyond mere knowledge acquisition. As part of the practical program, participants also took part in a tree-planting activity to honor Wangari Maathai's iconic environmental movement. By planting saplings with their bare hands, participants shared an educational experience that helped them understand Wangari Maathai's spirit. Gil Ye-won (Japanese Studies, 23) shared her impressions, saying that it was a valuable experience to go beyond the content of a simple lecture and hear the voices of those in the field, learning professionally beyond theory.

■ Masai Mara National Park

As part of the ecological tour, participants visited Masai Mara National Park and had the opportunity to experience the African savanna and feel the great outdoors. Through this experience, the students agreed that efforts must be made to address the climate crisis for the preservation of the natural environment. In particular, Jeong Hye-jin (Law Department, 20) shared that she was born in a rural area rich in natural resources and has always wanted to preserve the benefits of nature, which led her to take an interest in addressing the climate crisis. She described the experience as a meaningful time that allowed her to reflect on her original aspirations.

■ Middlesex University Dubai Campus

In Dubai, UAE, a joint workshop was held with Middlesex University Dubai Campus. Participants engaged in group discussions with local university students on the themes of sustainability, carbon markets, and ESG. Two teams from Kookmin University presented analyses of Samsung SDI's sustainability report and comparisons of carbon market policies between Korea and the UAE, along with policy recommendations. Through this process, participants exchanged active opinions with local students, gaining exposure to diverse perspectives and spending meaningful time understanding the institutional and cultural contexts of different countries. Lee Ki-yong (English Language and Literature, 20), who presented on the carbon market, said that he once again realized during the preparation process that policies need to be adjusted to suit local circumstances. He expressed his hope that both countries will establish stable carbon market systems and make substantial progress toward achieving carbon neutrality.

This program was designed to allow participants to see and hear firsthand how international organizations, local communities, companies, and universities are addressing climate issues. In particular, visits to UNEP headquarters and the Wangari Maathai Institute were considered key events that provided a three-dimensional understanding of climate governance and climate justice, as well as an opportunity to experience the complexity of climate responses in diverse cultures and systems. Meanwhile, as the lead university of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, Kookmin University is working to cultivate future-oriented humanities and social science talents equipped with problem-solving capabilities and interdisciplinary thinking through academic convergence education that breaks down boundaries between universities and disciplines under the theme of “Coexistence and Mutual Prosperity in the Era of Climate Crisis,” in collaboration with Deokseong Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University.