Future Earth Korea launches in Seoul

A Future Earth National Committee for the Republic of Korea launched April 25 at an international symposium in Seoul that attracted high-profile dignitaries and scientists from inside and out of the nation. The new committee, called Future Earth Korea, will play an important role in fostering research that addresses major challenges to sustainability in Korea. It is hosted by the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) and is endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Korea. Soon-Chang Yoon, KAST's Vice President for External Relations, will serve as the first Chair of Future Earth Korea.

The symposium was organised by KAST and titled "Future Earth and Sustainable Development Goals in Asia." In attendance was Duck-Soo Han, former Prime Minister of Korea and current Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Climate Change Center of Korea. He was joined by two past heads of the Ministry of Environment, Myung Ja Kim and Young-Sook Yoo, and the presidents of KAST, Myung-Chul Lee, and NAS, Sook-Il Kwun. Gordon McBean, president of the International Council for Science, and representatives from Future Earth also dressed up for this elegant event.

Future Earth welcomes the new National Committee, or structure, and looks forward to working with researchers and others in Korea, says Paul Shrivastava, Executive Director of Future Earth:

Future Earth is pleased to have Future Earth Korea join a growing number of national structures around the world. We appreciate all of the people who worked to make this happen, and we look forward to collaborating with Future Earth Korea and Chair Soon-Chang Yoon to promote ground-breaking research for sustainability in Korea.

National structures are important organisations for adapting the vision of Future Earth for diverse countries around the world — working with national scientists to inform solutions to local concerns. Currently, 15 national structures have partnered with Future Earth with more on the way.