Urgent Call for Harmonious Human-Nature Relationship

At the World Summit 2025, held in Seoul, South Korea, global leaders and environmental experts convened to address the escalating climate crisis. The summit, themed “Lasting Global Surroundings: Innovation tasks to Overcome the Climate Crisis,” served as a platform for sharing insights and proposing actionable solutions to combat environmental degradation.

Moon Sun-jin, executive director of the Hyojeong International Environmental Peace Foundation (HJIFEJP), emphasized the critical need for a basic shift in viewpoint. She stated that indifference to the environment and the abuse of natural resources have caused serious problems. The fundamental solution to environmental issues should be based on the harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

Moon further elaborated on HJIFEJP’s mission, stating, “In 2017, we founded the Hyojeong International Environmental Peace Foundation to find the most effective solutions by looking for insights from human-nature’s interactive perceptions, universal and moral principles, and materialist worldviews.”

The Looming Threat of Mass Extinction

Joo Dong-moon, chairman of HJIFEJP, voiced concerns about the potential for a sixth mass extinction event if current climate trends persist. Scientists estimate that the current extinction rate is 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural background rate, largely due to human activities.

There is a concern that if the trend of climate change and environmental crisis continues, it may cause the sixth mass extinction.

Joo Dong-moon,chairman of HJIFEJP

Korea’s Commitment to Global Climate Leadership

Ambassador Chung,a special envoy for climate change,outlined the devastating impacts of climate change,including floods,wildfires,and rising sea levels. He stressed the urgency of an integrated response and proposed five interconnected measures to accelerate climate action.

These measures include fostering climate-responsive actions with economic opportunities, abolishing fossil fuels, climate fiscal reform, integrated solutions for climate, biodiversity, and pollution, and strengthening global climate governance.

Ambassador Chung asserted that Korea is deeply contributing to preemptive global climate leadership, highlighting the nation’s unique position to bridge the gap between developed and developing countries due to its advanced industrial capabilities and advancement partnership experience.

Africa’s Disproportionate Burden

Former President Maki Salesa of Senegal highlighted the stark reality that Africa, despite contributing the least to pollution, bears a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts.

Africa has the least impact on the climate crisis, but it is necessary to pay the cost of the result alone. This is a double burden or injustice.

Former President Maki Salesa of Senegal

He emphasized the need for a collective global effort to combat global warming, stating that Africa wants to contribute to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This sentiment underscores the importance of climate justice and equitable distribution of resources and responsibilities in addressing the climate crisis.

Balancing Development and Climate Action in Developing Nations

Jang Seo-yong, a professor at Korea University, underscored the challenges faced by developing countries in balancing continued development with the imperative of climate change prevention.This highlights the need for innovative solutions and international cooperation to support sustainable development pathways for these nations.