Inspired by the 16th-century Korean scholar Yulgok Yi I’s strategy of training 100,000 soldiers to prepare the nation for war, VANK has established the “We Are Global Climate Ambassadors” website. The initiative aims to cultivate 100,000 youth climate defenders who will actively respond to the global climate crisis.
Had the Joseon Dynasty heeded Yi I’s preparations in advance, national catastrophes like the Imjin War might have been prevented. Similarly, VANK believes that relying on just one official climate ambassador appointed by the Korean government is insufficient to address the worldwide climate emergency or effectively communicate Korea’s stance on climate issues globally.
Through this platform, VANK, in cooperation with Gyeonggi Province, plans to introduce global climate ambassador activities and vigorously promote them to teachers and students nationwide. By integrating these efforts into free semester programs, club activities, and environmental classes in elementary, middle, and high schools, VANK aims to nurture 100,000 climate defenders.
Scientific projections warn that a 1°C rise in the Earth’s average temperature threatens many polar bears with extinction. A 2°C rise could submerge vast regions worldwide and cause numerous deaths. A 3°C rise might lead to a collapse of over 50% of global production, capital, and consumption, sparking continuous conflicts resembling unending wars.
The 2023 Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum identifies the top threats facing humanity in the next decade as failure to mitigate climate change, failure to adapt to climate change, natural disasters and extreme weather, and ecosystem collapse. Clearly, the world is under severe threat from the climate crisis.
In response, VANK has signed a memorandum of understanding with Gyeonggi Provincial Government to nurture global climate ambassadors. The goal is to empower citizens with climate knowledge and encourage collective efforts against the climate emergency.
The “We Are Global Climate Ambassadors” site is organized into six key sections:
- We Are Global Climate Ambassadors: Explains the urgent warnings about the climate crisis and the motivation behind creating the site.
- Turning Indifference to Interest: Divided into ‘Global Climate Crisis’ and ‘Korean Climate Crisis,’ this section informs users about climate change phenomena worldwide and within Korea.
- Turning Interest to Prafection: Guides users on turning awareness into practical steps, with tailored advice for homes, schools, and workplaces on how to combat climate change.
- From Action to Organization: Highlights collective national-level efforts, showcasing proactive climate policies in Europe and Korea.
- The Great Journey: Chronicles VANK’s ongoing activities recognizing the climate crisis’s seriousness and its commitment to action.
- Climate Compass: Provides accessible explanations of climate-related terminology and introduces related information resources for those less familiar with the topic.
Choi Yoo-jin, a youth researcher at VANK who led the site’s development, said, “As temperatures rise, people increasingly understand the severity of the climate crisis. Through this platform, we want to collaborate with citizens on how everyone, from their own position, can respond effectively. We hope this site guides all Koreans to become global climate ambassadors, joining together as defenders of humanity to protect our planet.”
Recently, VANK partnered with Gyeonggi Province (Governor Kim Dong-yeon) to implement projects aimed at nurturing global climate ambassadors. Their collaboration includes developing content on the urgency of the climate crisis and response policies, expanding climate education and action programs for youth both online and offline, and promoting climate response efforts internationally through social media channels.