The Climate and Air Quality Research Group at the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) convened the second forum to discuss the achievements and future directions of the Korean Panel on Climate Change (KPCC) preparatory committee. The forum, titled “The Second KPCC Forum for Addressing Global Climate Crisis Agenda,” was held on April 19, 2024, in Seoul, Korea.

The forum consisted of two sessions, each focusing on the outcomes the KPCC preparatory committee has achieved so far, and the roles and directions KPCC should pursue in its operations. Session 1 featured six expert presentations, covering topics such as “Detecting Climate Change and Determining Its Causes,” “Biophysical Cooling According to Lengthening of Vegetation Growing Seasons,” “The Necessity of Health Impact Assessment Amidst a Comprehensive Climate Crisis,” and “Evaluating the Potential for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in the Building Sector.”

Additionally, KEI’s roles and responsibilities in response to the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) were discussed. Professor Ho Kim of Seoul National University highlighted KEI’s potential role as a national hub, working in collaboration with the global community, especially in relation to the preparation of the IPCC report.

In Session 2, Dr. Hoon Chang, Director General of the Climate and Air Research Group, outlined future plans for KPCC. Dr. Chang emphasized the importance of “networking” across academic, public, and private sectors as a priority. He also stressed the need to expand incentives to encourage participation in IPCC report authorship and to enhance continuous networking efforts among cooperative bodies through robust linkages with responsible government departments.

Dr. Hoon Chang, Director General of the Climate and Air Quality Research Group 

Group photo