Korean Minister: Youth to suffer most from climate change consequences

Although the youth are not responsible for causing climate change, they will be the ones to suffer the most from its consequences, South Korea's Environment Minister Kim Wan-sup, said at the high-level roundtable themed "Children, Youth, and Climate Action" held as part of COP29, Report informs.

"If we are talking about climate action today, the younger generations must be informed about the threats they may face and equipped with the skills to combat these problems. Youth and children should be an integral part of the discussions on climate change," stressed Minister Kim. He noted that young people play a crucial role in this matter and actively participate in discussions at the international and regional levels.

The minister noted that the Korean government supports youth activism in this field and promotes policies formulated with their participation.

Wan-sup also highlighted the importance of recognizing the achievements of young people.

According to him, some of the initiatives undertaken by the ministry include: preparing a five-year action plan on climate change, developing and integrating climate change educational materials into school curricula, organizing lectures and training sessions in schools, and implementing climate actions at the regional level.

The minister also pointed out that since 2022, 19 cities in South Korea have been declared climate action cities. Additionally, some cities have established environmental information centers for youth.

He noted that as a special initiative, active youth in the field of climate change are selected and declared climate ambassadors. These young people are part of South Korea's delegation at COP29.

"We must ensure that future generations have a say in these critical issues," Wan-sup concluded.