On August 14, 2024, Cyber Diplomacy Organization VANK signed a cooperation agreement with Yeongcheon Girls’ Middle School (Principal Park Jeong-sook) to launch the Global Climate Change Ambassadors Program, aiming to empower Korean youth to take the lead in addressing the climate crisis.
The event, a collaboration between VANK and the school, was designed to cultivate youth leaders capable of solving global issues like climate change. VANK’s Director Park Ki-tae delivered a career lecture for all students from grades 1 to 3, followed by a training session and inauguration ceremony for 117 first-year students as Global Climate Change Ambassadors.
In his speech, Park emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, citing the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report, which ranked the failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change as the top threats facing humanity. “The youth of Yeongcheon Girls’ Middle School can become leaders who will guide Korea and the world in overcoming these challenges,” he said.
In addition, Kim Bo-kyung, CEO of the social venture Impactus, and Woo Yeon-taek, VANK team leader, gave lectures on the climate crisis and ways to act, engaging the students with an interactive quiz. VANK researchers including Lee Jeong-ae, Lee Sun-hee, Kwon Soon-gyu, Yang So-hee, Kwon So-young, and Choi Yoo-jin also provided practical guidance on climate action.
Principal Park Jeong-sook emphasized the importance of youth-led action to address global issues like climate change, stating, “ESG education that promotes sustainable leadership is essential. Through this program, students will understand the severity of the climate crisis and take responsibility to work together for global solutions.”
VANK’s Park Ki-tae highlighted a recent event where Korean youth filed a constitutional petition against the government for failing to address the climate crisis, which gained international attention. “Through this partnership with Yeongcheon Girls’ Middle School, we hope to see Korean youth become active global climate change ambassadors.”
The two institutions will collaborate on climate change education, campaigns, and ESG initiatives to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become proactive global leaders in tackling the climate crisis. VANK is also pushing forward various projects aimed at fostering global climate ambassadors worldwide.