Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a special lecture on Climate Change and the International Community’s Response on November 21st at the University of Seoul’s Natural Sciences Building conference room to commemorate the 100th Urban Infrastructure Forum.
According to the University of Seoul on November 24th, the Urban Infrastructure Forum, held monthly since 2013, is the university’s flagship academic event. It addresses key issues in urban, environmental, and international cooperation, fostering knowledge exchange among domestic and international experts and practitioners and exploring global cooperation strategies.
Approximately 300 participants, including civil servant trainees and undergraduate and graduate students from developing countries, attended the lecture both online and offline. It was co-hosted by the University of Seoul’s International Graduate School of Urban Science and the University of Seoul’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Committee.
In his lecture, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized, Climate change is no longer limited to an environmental issue; it is a crisis affecting humanity that transcends borders. Specifically, regarding the importance of cities, he stated, Climate policy must be implemented from the city level, and policy design and urban planning that reflect resilience and sustainability are key. He continued, Cities are a major source of carbon emissions and a space where the fastest solutions can be provided, and proposed an integrated approach for preemptive responses at the city level and strengthening climate resilience.
He also linked the Paris Agreement to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing that “climate response requires global cooperation with legal bindings and implementation monitoring systems.” He also mentioned the role of city-specific climate plans and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as well as ensuring transparency in attracting public investment and private financing. He stated, Efficient and integrated urban governance, a trust-based climate finance structure, and regional adaptation strategies will determine the sustainability of cities around the world.
The lecture was conducted in English and moderated by Professor Park Hyun of the International Graduate School of Urban Sciences. Following the lecture, civil servant trainees from developing countries had the opportunity to ask questions about their respective cities’ current issues and climate policies and exchange views directly with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Dean Lee Shin of the International Graduate School of Urban Sciences stated, The 100th Urban Infrastructure Forum is a symbol of the international urban cooperation network that the University of Seoul has built over the past decade. We will continue to strengthen sustainable global solidarity in the fields of urban development and environmental policy.
