The document discusses youth activities related to climate change adaptation in South Korea. It describes two youth organizations, Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK) and SDSN Youth, that are working to raise awareness and take action on climate issues through local projects, campaigns, networking, and education. GEYK's projects include building a garden to increase pollination and reduce heat, and promoting bicycling. SDSN Youth educates others about sustainability goals and connects young people globally. The document argues that youth are important for executing climate policies and inspiring social change, and that governments should support and connect with youth efforts to strengthen climate adaptation.

1. Experiences and Activities of Youth
for Climate Change Adaptation in Korea
Environmental GIS/RS Lab
Korea University
Cholho Song
NAP Expo 11 April 2019, Songdo, Republic of Korea
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2. I. Background
II. Youth Activities and CCA
III. Youth, way forward
Context
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3. NAP Expo 11 April 2019, Songdo, Republic of Korea
After Paris Agreement
I. Background
Regime changes
- Previous: Annex 1 countries had historical responsibility
- Current: All Nations contribute their effort for mitigation and adaptation
Linkage with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- MDGs: overcome extreme poverty
- SDGs: how to make sustainable life (including climate change issue)
Comprehensive environmental issues & low carbon economy
- Climate change (CO2) – air quality (SO2 & NO2) – health problem
Increasing social awareness about climate change
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4. Mitigation and Adaptation
I. Background
Mitigation and adaptation
- Mitigation: how to save changing world
(reducing CO2 emission, carbon capture technology etc.)
- Adaptation: how to live under changing world
(action, policy, infra, socio-economic measures & disaster risk reduction)
Korea’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
- Reduce 37% of emission (536 million ton) form BAU (850.8 million ton) in 2030
- Originally 25.7% from domestic and 11.3% from international carbon market
- Now 11.3% changed 4.5% including LULUCF and foreign market
Higher pressures on reducing emission in domestic
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5. Mitigation and Adaptation
I. Background
Adaptive measure can change climate change impact and vulnerability
Adaptive measure can help reducing emission and NDC
Aren't we negligent in Adaptation because of the burden on Mitigation?
Füssel, H. M., & Klein, R. J. (2006). Climate change vulnerability
assessments: an evolution of conceptual thinking. Climatic change, 75(3),
301-329.
IPCC (2014) Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A:
Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 1132 pp.
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6. To change positive public opinion
I. Background
From the mitigation measure, what we experienced
(some) Negative social opinions
29.2 days of Heatwaves
15.7 days of tropical night
Blackout
Electric shortage
No Straw policy
No disposable product
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7. Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK)
II. Youth Activities and CCA
GEYK is a youth platform in South Korea to share knowledge and experiences,
take actions locally and internationally, run projects and inspire people to care
about climate change.
- Run by highly motivated youths committed to climate change issues
- Believe that cross-generational cooperation is need to solve climate change crisis
- Aim to have a role in decision-making on climate change policies to make the world
sustainable, just and fair.
GEYK’s Activities
- Change the Society (local activities)
- Environmental Knowledge and Lifestyle (movements)
- Alliances (networks)
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8. Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK)
II. Youth Activities and CCA
Project to build a garden for “Bee”
- Pollination in the city to maintain biodiversity
- The garden reduces the temperature from heatwaves
- Gives societal and educational ecosystem services
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9. Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK)
II. Youth Activities and CCA
Campaign using bicycle (Breakfree 2017 Korea)
- Contributes to reduce emission from fossil fuel
- Suggest adaptive measure to the society by change social custom
- Educational impact with social awareness
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10. Green Environment Youth Korea (GEYK)
II. Youth Activities and CCA
Networking activities
- Attend international conference (COP, COY, CBD)
- Partnership with local and global governments and institutions
- Seminar with institutions
- Media promotion
- Campaigns (climate march, youth forum)
- etc.
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11. SDSN Youth
II. Youth Activities and CCA
SDSN Youth is a youth initiatives of Sustainable Development Solutions
Network (SDSN) for Empowering youth globally to create sustainable
development solutions.
- SDSN Youth Korea has many activities with SDSN Korea & SDSN HQ
- Educate young people about SDGs and create pathways for achieving them
- Support young people in the creation and scaling of innovative solutions for SDGs
- Connect young people globally to exchange idea, share experiences and collaborate
to achieve the SDGs
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12. SDSN Youth
II. Youth Activities and CCA
Move Humanity for SDGs
- Originally, “Move Humanity” is a new global initiative for SDGs
1 percent of the wealth of the world’s super-rich for SDGs
- Move Humanity for SDGs is a youth action
1 youth action can make positive difference to achieve SDGs
1 action from 54 universities
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13. SDSN Youth
II. Youth Activities and CCA
On-line and off-line activities
- Make a educational video in You-tube (SDSN Youth & SDSN Youth Korea) etc.
- Off-line seminars and meetings about SDGs
- SDSN Youth Academy (March 23 – November 2)
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14. Synthesize Youth Activities
III. Youth, way forward
Adaptation is not “Big-things” but it affects sensitivity & adaptation capacity
They do the real action in field
- Korean CCA is based on the government policy by each sector, so government
makes National Adaptation Plans, public official execute it
- GEYK and SDSN Korea Youth’s activities have some common with national plans
(civil movements & risk management & social and educational part)
- Youth has a power to execute the climate change policy and plan (in many fields)
They inspire the people
- Their action can change negative social opinions to positive social opinions, and
youth can suggest better social network, NGO activities, and global cooperation
- Eco-friendly policy and adaptation plan can be more intermediate with the people,
especially seminars and campaigns by GEYK and SDSN Korea Youth’s
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15. Approaches of CCA with Youth
III. Youth, way forward
Policy: bottom-up activities
- Need to support youth in CCA policy (give them some advantages)
- Connect their activities into CCA policy
Science: clear assessment measure
- CCA by youth may small, but it makes impacts
- Consider their activities as social sensitivity, adaptation capacity,
and new pathways for SDGs
Social: reinforcement
- Promote positive reinforcement to continue their activity
- Empower them when we execute some policy
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16. Thank you for your attention
Contact:
cholhosong@korea.ac.kr
Environmental GIS/RS Lab
Korea University
Cholho Song
NAP Expo 11 April 2019, Songdo, Republic of Korea
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