K-water joins hands with NGO to discuss climate change

K-water CEO Yun Seog-dae speaks during the discussion session, titled "Water and Energy," held at Global Green Growth Institute headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of K-water

The Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) said Thursday it hosted a discussion session titled “Water and Energy” together with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to study the converging risks of water scarcity and energy imbalance as climate change continues to escalate.

Held at GGGI headquarters in central Seoul, the event was part of the four-day program for “The GGGWeek 2025,” which commenced on Monday. Aligning with the ongoing 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, the event aims to strengthen global consensus on climate resilience and sustainable growth.

The session brought together high-profile participants from five countries, including GGGI Director-General Kim Sang-hyup, K-water CEO Yun Seog-dae, World Resources Institute Executive Director Robyn McGuckin and Pakistani lawmaker Shezra Mansab Ali Kharal.

Participants focused on the theme of water and renewable energy for climate resilience, exploring options for technological cooperation and reinforcing global partnerships. A key topic was the integrated management of water and energy systems as a pathway to enhanced resilience and sustainable development, according to K-water.

Following the session, the delegation visited K-water’s water management control center in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. They inspected its integrated water-management system, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time predictive capabilities to inform operational decisions.

K-water emphasized the importance of combining digital solutions with renewable energy applications, including water-based and floating solar power systems, to raise efficiency across water-energy interfaces.

“Water and energy are twin pillars for climate-crisis response. Through the circulation and linkage of these resources, we can move toward a sustainable future,” Yun said.

“Leveraging technologies like digital twins, AI-enabled treatment plants, and smart network management, we will pursue stable water supply and green transition — and expand the Korean model for integrated water-energy management across the globe.”