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Climate Crisis Response ICEC, a Leader Towards a Sustainable Gwangju
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
February 2021
FEATURE
Interview by William Urbanski
We are all aware of climate change, and we are aware that it is affecting the environment around the world, but are we aware of whether or how Gwangju may be affected? The Gwangju News has recently caught up with Dr. Yun Won-Tae, President of the International Climate and Environment Center, for an interview on the climate crisis and what is required to create a sustainable Gwangju
Gwangju News (GN): First of all, Dr. Yun, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Could you please tell us about your background, both academic and personal? Yun Won-Tae: Thank you for inviting me. I appreciate your interest in the International Climate and Environment Center (ICEC). It is a pleasure to introduce myself and my work to the Gwangju News’ subscribers. I grew up in the countryside and was always interested in nature; clouds especially fascinated me. This led me to the study of meteorology at the University of Cologne in Germany, where I earned my PhD. Upon returning to Korea, I went to work for the national government as head of the Korean delegation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate (UN IPCC) and later as president of the National Typhoon Center of the Korea Meteorological Administration. I have also worked with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as an expert advisor. My family and I moved to Gwangju in 2019. Since then I have been serving as president of the International Climate and Environment Center (ICEC), secretary general of the Urban Environmental Accords (UEA), and professor of meteorology at Chonnam National University. In dealing with climate change and environmental issues in the city, I am focused on the strategic development of resilience and low-carbon sustainability of Gwangju. GN: Please introduce the ICEC to our readers. What kind of initiatives is the ICEC involved in? Yun: As we are all aware, more than half of the world’s
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▲ President Yun Won-Tae
population resides in cities. Dense population in urbanized areas equates to heavy energy consumption and significant greenhouse gas production. So, cities are hot spots of vulnerability and exposure. Climate change calls for new approaches to sustainable development that take into account complex interactions between climate, social, and ecological systems. Founded by Gwangju City in 2012, the ICEC was originally called the Climate Change Response Center. Later, when it was merged with the secretariat of the Urban Environmental Accords, the name was changed to the International Climate and Environment Center. For nine years, the ICEC has been committed to the vision of creating a sustainable Gwangju through vigorous efforts to research and develop climate change response policies, support green living among citizens, and realize a lowcarbon green city. The ICEC has three basic goals: (a) developing and disseminating science-based technologies and policies for urban environments which, of course, includes Gwangju; (b) raising public awareness of the climate crisis and encouraging participation through inclusion and the education of local citizens; and (c) promoting knowledge-sharing and capacity-building programs via a global network of cities called the Urban Environmental Accords (UEA).
1/26/2021 10:07:11 AM
