Korean university students help shape future of climate education policy
The three Korean delegates of Coolimate wear traditional Korean hanbok clothes during a panel discussion on the sidelines of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, Nov. 12. Courtesy of Coolimate
Young activists call for more inclusivity in environmental discussions
The year 2025 was no different from any other as far as climate discourse was concerned. The year saw Brazil host the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) between Nov. 10 and 21. The conference attracted a record 56,118 delegates representing 190 countries.
Among the younger faces in Belem were three Korean women, Kim So-yun, Kim Seo-yun and Park Ji-yoon, members of Coolimate, a youth-led organization based in Korea that runs climate-focused programs both in and outside Korea.
The three students, from Seoul National University, Ewha Womans University and Sweden's Lund University, participated in panel discussions on the sidelines of the event.
Kim So-yun stands in front of the venue for COP30 in Belem, Brazil, Nov. 17. Courtesy of Coolimate
According to So-yun, a student at Seoul National University, one of the main things that stood out to her was the steps being taken to protect the rights of vulnerable groups.
“I was particularly happy about the adoption of the Belém Action Mechanism,” she told The Korea Times. “This is important because it incorporates the principle of [a] just transition that emphasizes the need to protect vulnerable groups such as local communities and workers from the direct impacts that may arise during the transition away from fossil fuel-dependent industries.”
For her part, Seo-yun, currently studying at Sweden's Lund University, was impressed by the demographic representation present at the conference.
“I was happy to see young people and civil society speak confidently about climate issues,” she said. “At the same time, many of these conversations remain outside the rooms where policies are actually shaped, which are often filled with people who do not represent younger or marginalized groups.”
A major talking point from COP30 was the importance of involving Indigenous people in key climate discussions, since they easily get sidelined, and yet they are the frontliners in experiencing the effects of climate change.
Having seen the protest of Indigenous people at the conference, Ewha Womans University student Ji-yoon highlighted that it sharpened her perspective on their involvement in climate discussions.
“Seeing Indigenous peoples assert their rights, identity and voices in the very spaces where global decisions are made underscored the gap between who holds the microphone and who bears the weight of climate impacts,” she said. “Their voices were powerful, yet it was equally clear that their concerns were not always centered in the official negotiations. It made me think about whose knowledge we privilege, and whose struggles remain at the margins.”
The key deliberations might have ended at the COP 30 summit, but this is just the beginning of the involvement and continuation of Coolimate's climate projects.
For the longest time, climate discussions had been the preserve of government stakeholders, so through their organization, they aim to break this stereotype by involving more young people. Under the slogan “Inclusive, Adaptable Climate Education for All,” the organization is running education development projects that are aimed at designing and delivering climate adaptation curricula and learning materials.
The programs are designed to reflect local contexts and community needs so as to empower people who have been directly impacted by the climate crisis. One example of such a campaign is the organization's program in Madagascar in 2024, aimed at conducting educational training on climate justice across different parts of the island country with support from government officials there.
Members of Coolimate participate in a climate education program in Madagascar, June 25, 2024. Courtesy of Coolimate
Locally in Korea, the organization focuses on creating public learning spaces where children and young people interested in climate change can gather, exchange ideas and learn from one another. One of the most recent examples of this platform is the Local Conference of Youth Korea 2025, which was held on July 4 at the Seoul National University Library. The event brought together students from different universities to engage in climate dialogue, policy discussion and collective action.
In February 2026, the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality will be revised, marking a pivotal moment in Korea’s climate policy. As a run-up to this momentous occasion, Coolimate is currently preparing youth participation campaigns as a steering committee member of the Youth Climate Assembly to help ensure that youth voices are meaningfully reflected in this process.
For the three young activists, climate justice is more than just a common phrase that is thrown around during discussions about climate change. To them, it is a calling for people to take urgent steps to support climate-related programs to conserve and protect the environment.
Nashon Owano is a freelance journalist and content creator based in Korea. He is passionate about sports, culture and human interest stories. Follow @owanohnashon on X and Instagram.