Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) Climate Change Response Project Team participated in the 2025 APEC Climate Symposium, jointly hosted by the Asia-Pacific Center for Climate Change (APCC), the Korea Meteorological Administration, and the City of Busan at the BEXCO Convention Hall in Busan from Thursday, August 7 to Friday, August 8.

This symposium is a premier climate-focused academic event held annually with the support of the APEC Chair country government to maximize climate information utilization and explore cooperation strategies among APEC member economies. This year's theme was “Climate Challenges in the APEC Region: Complexity of Climate Change and Exploring Response Directions,” bringing together global climate experts for extensive discussions on climate prediction, adaptation strategies, and international cooperation.

Students from the Global Climate and Environmental Convergence Department attended the entire two-day program. They listened to in-depth academic presentations and discussions, communicated with academics and policy makers in the climate field from the Asia-Pacific region, and broadened their climate-related knowledge and perspectives.

Day One focused on the theme ‘Climate Challenges – Causes and Predictions, Achievements and Future Directions,’ featuring △Technologies for analyzing the causes of extreme weather and climate phenomena △Seasonal (3-6 month) to 10-year prediction technologies to support policy decision-making △Methods for expressing uncertainty in climate predictions △Advancements in various event attribution analysis techniques and their societal applications △Physical climate storylines as a method linking attribution analysis and prediction.

On the second day, under the theme ‘Climate Challenges – Adaptation and Cooperation for Strengthening Climate Resilience’, presentations and discussions by experts continued on topics including: △Global crop yield projections △The role of the health sector in climate policy △Sector-specific adaptation strategies such as innovative approaches for strengthening climate resilience △From Outlook to Action: Integrating Climate Risks into Development Decision-Making.

Students at Kookmin University not only deepened their multifaceted understanding of climate issues through this symposium but were also greatly impressed by the event's overall commitment to sustainability. Student Shin Da Won (Japanese Studies, 23) stated, “The tableware provided during coffee breaks was made from sugarcane fiber and was biodegradable, and the wet wipes were also composed of 100% biodegradable materials,” adding, “Through such meticulous preparation, I could truly feel the sincerity behind the symposium's call for ‘climate action’.”

Another participant, Park Ji Eun (Chinese Politics and Economics, 23), shared, “It moved beyond understanding climate change solely through numbers and data. I felt firsthand the efforts and passion of experts from around the world striving to confront these changes. It was a precious opportunity that changed my way of life and my awareness.”

Through the APEC Climate Symposium, students confirmed the essential link between scientific research and policy implementation, as well as the necessity of international cooperation. Topics like uncertainties in ENSO predictions in the tropical Pacific, extreme precipitation simulations, and case studies of integrating climate risks into policy highlighted the need for multidisciplinary collaboration that transcends single-field approaches. It was emphasized that the higher the uncertainty, the more essential cross-border information sharing and joint research become, and that the climate crisis is not an isolated national problem but an interconnected challenge. In particular, it was confirmed that responding to the climate crisis is impossible through the efforts of a single country alone, and that sustained, trust-based international cooperation is essential.

Meanwhile, Kookmin University, as the lead institution of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, is breaking down boundaries between universities and disciplines. Under the theme ‘Coexistence and Mutual Prosperity in the Era of Climate Crisis,’ it is collaborating with Duksung Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University. Through interdisciplinary convergence education, it is cultivating future-oriented humanities and social science talents equipped with problem-solving capabilities and convergent thinking.