APEC Climate Center to Host 2025 APEC Climate Symposium in Busan to Mark 20th Anniversary of Its Establishment
APEC Climate Symposium 2025 in Busan
Keynote session by Dr. Axel Timmermann
Special segment commemorating APCC’s 20-year journey
The APEC Climate Symposium is an annual academic forum organized with the support of the APEC host economy, with its theme aligned to APEC’s key priorities. As South Korea assumes the role of APEC host in 2025, this year’s symposium reflected Korea’s focus on regional cooperation and sustainability.
Highlights of the 2025 APEC Climate Symposium:
· The event commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Hyungjin Kim, Acting Executive Director of APCC. Welcome remarks were delivered by Mr. Jun-seung Lee, Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs of Busan Metropolitan City, and Dr. Dong-Eon CHANG, Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
A series of congratulatory messages followed:
· Mr. Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat (via video)
· Dr. Kyunghoon Bae, Minister of Science and ICT (via video)
· Rep. Ho-young Ahn, Chair of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly (via video)
· Rep. Hee-Jeong Kim, Member of the National Assembly
· Dr. Hoesung Lee, Former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The ceremony featured a special segment commemorating APCC’s 20-year journey, highlighting its major milestones and achievements, while also presenting its vision for the future.
· Keynote Sessions (August 7):
Centered on the theme “Understanding Climate Change and Challenges from Scientific and Societal Perspectives,” the keynote session featured a video message by Dr. Jim Skea, IPCC Chair. Dr. Axel Timmermann, Director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics, presented the latest research on climate change impacts and future scenarios in the Asia-Pacific region, setting the tone for subsequent discussions on climate resilience strategies.
· Session 1 - Climate Challenges: Attribution and Prediction (August 7):
Global climate experts shared cutting-edge research on extreme weather events, seasonal to decadal prediction technologies (3-6 months and beyond), the use of AI and big data, and strategies for communicating uncertainty in forecasts. The session also explored how scientific insights can be effectively translated into actionable policy.
· Session 2 - Climate Challenges: Adaptation and Cooperation for Resilience, following the congratulatory remarks by Rep. Jiho Cha, Member of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Climate Crisis (August 8):
Discussions focused on the socio-economic value of climate information and sector-specific adaptation strategies in areas such as agriculture, disaster risk management, and public health. Innovative approaches to building resilience—particularly those involving AI applications and international cooperation—were presented and discussed.
· Panel Discussion (August 8):
Experts and stakeholders discussed how to strengthen links between climate information providers and end-users in the Asia-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of public-private-academic partnerships. The session highlighted the need for integrated approaches and shared practical models for sustainable regional cooperation.
“As APCC celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we remain committed to strengthening climate research and international collaboration,” said Dr. Hyungjin Kim, Acting Executive Director of APCC. “Our goal is to contribute meaningfully to addressing climate challenges and fostering a more resilient Asia-Pacific region.”
About APEC Climate Center (APCC)
The APCC works to enhance the socio-economic well-being of APEC member economies by promoting cooperation in the development of climate monitoring and prediction technologies and the effective use of climate information. APCC produces and distributes high-quality multi-model ensemble (MME) forecasts developed in collaboration with 16 operational institutes from 11 countries, and actively supports both global and regional climate initiatives.
Website: https://apcc21.org
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APEC Climate Center
Mr. Manjae HA
Press Officer
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