Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) hosted the “2025 Environmental Consortium Conference” at its College of Business Administration and Bugak Hall from Friday 7th to Saturday 8th November. The event was organised by the Climate Change Response Project Team (Director Kang Yoon Hee). This event was jointly hosted by the Graduate School of Climate Change (Director Sohn Jin Sik), the Graduate School of Carbon Sinks (Director Lee Chang Bae), and the HUSS Environmental Consortium.

Conducted under the main theme “Climate Future: Industrial Transition and Regional/Community Responses”, the conference featured Vice President Sohn Jin Sik, HUSS Environmental Consortium Director Kang Yoon Hee, and directors Kim Jong Kil (Duksung Women's University), Kim Chi Wook (Ulsan University), Kim Jung Ho (Inha University), Kang Hui Suk (Chosun University), Park Tae Sik (Team Leader, Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation, National Research Foundation of Korea), Professor Kim Hyung Jun (KAIST), alongside approximately 150 students from the five universities in the Environmental Consortium (Kookmin University, Duksung Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, Chosun University), and over 200 participants from industry, academia, policy experts, and the environmental consortium. They explored practical solutions for addressing the climate crisis and the role of future talent.

The first day of the conference (7 November) comprised four sessions: ▲ Climate Crisis and Future Strategy (Keynote Address) ▲ Climate Tech and Technological Innovation ▲ Carbon Neutrality and Industrial Transition ▲ Climate Education and Implementation Strategy, featuring lectures and discussions.

Professor Kim Hyung Jun of KAIST's Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy, delivering the keynote address, emphasised the severity of the climate crisis under the theme “The Science of the Climate Crisis and Future Strategy: Meta-Earth and AI”. He presented specific climate phenomena intensifying globally, such as heatwaves, floods, and wildfires. The subsequent “Climate Change and Climate Tech” session featured Professors Shin Ju Young (Graduate School of Climate Change) and Lim Chul Hee (Graduate School of Carbon Sinks), who introduced innovative technologies and real-world commercialisation cases, leading an in-depth discussion on the future potential and application strategies within the climate tech sector.

The subsequent “Carbon Neutrality and Industrial Transition” session featured representatives from major industries, including Ocean Technology Co., Ltd., SK On, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, who shared insights on industrial structural changes and corporate strategies for achieving carbon neutrality. The final session, “Climate Change – A Forum for Education and Action”, concluded the first day's proceedings. Experts from diverse fields, including the Ministry of Education, KEI, BAE, KIM & LEE LLC, and Yonsei University, participated. They exchanged views on the role of education in strengthening climate crisis response capabilities, legal and policy support systems, and the necessity for collaboration between academia and industry.

The second day of the conference (8 November) featured presentation sessions led by HUSS Consortium students and expert lectures, sharing the younger generation's perspectives on addressing the climate crisis and their creative problem-solving capabilities. The student presentation session discussed diverse topics including: ▲ Asia's response to the climate crisis ▲ Local communities and climate justice ▲ ESG management and net-zero ▲ Internship, employment, and start-up case studies.

Subsequent expert lectures featured Dr Jeong In Tae from the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, who introduced the latest trends in international environmental regulations and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), proposing response strategies for industry. Hong Sae Rok, Deputy Manager at the Korea Environment Corporation, outlined the Ministry of Environment's International Environmental Expert Training Programme, providing practical career information for students aspiring to work in international organisations.

Kang Yoon Hee, Head of the Climate Change Response Project Team at Kookmin University, stated, ‘This conference confirmed that responding to the climate crisis cannot be confined to specific technologies or industries; it requires an interdisciplinary approach across academic fields and generations.’ She added, ‘The HUSS Environmental Consortium will continue to provide platforms for ongoing exchange and support to ensure students' ideas translate into action.’

Meanwhile, as the lead institution of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, Kookmin University is spearheading the cultivation of interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences talent among five universities (Duksung Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, Chosun University) with the goal of “coexistence and mutual prosperity in the era of climate crisis”.