BUSAN -- The APEC Climate Center (APCC), in collaboration with the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and the Busan Metropolitan Government, hosted the 2025 APEC Climate Symposium from August 7 to 8, 2025, at BEXCO Convention Hall in Busan. This year's symposium also marked a significant milestone: the 20th anniversary of APCC’s establishment.

Held under the theme, “Addressing APEC’s Climate Challenges: Complexity of Climate Change Adaptation and the Way Forward,” the symposium aimed to strengthen climate crisis response capabilities and explore collaborative strategies for a sustainable future across the Asia-Pacific region. Approximately 150 participants—including meteorologists, climate experts, and government officials from APEC member economies—were in attendance.

The APEC Climate Symposium is an annual academic forum organized with the support of the APEC host economy, with its theme aligned to APEC’s key priorities. As South Korea assumes the role of APEC host in 2025, this year’s symposium reflected Korea’s focus on regional cooperation and sustainability.

Highlights of the 2025 APEC Climate Symposium:

· The event commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Hyungjin Kim, Acting Executive Director of APCC. Welcome remarks were delivered by Mr. Jun-seung Lee, Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs of Busan Metropolitan City, and Dr. Dong-Eon CHANG, Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

A series of congratulatory messages followed:

· Mr. Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat (via video)
· Dr. Kyunghoon Bae, Minister of Science and ICT (via video)
· Rep. Ho-young Ahn, Chair of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly (via video)
· Rep. Hee-Jeong Kim, Member of the National Assembly
· Dr. Hoesung Lee, Former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The ceremony featured a special segment commemorating APCC’s 20-year journey, highlighting its major milestones and achievements, while also presenting its vision for the future.

· Keynote Sessions (August 7):

Centered on the theme “Understanding Climate Change and Challenges from Scientific and Societal Perspectives,” the keynote session featured a video message by Dr. Jim Skea, IPCC Chair. Dr. Axel Timmermann, Director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics, presented the latest research on climate change impacts and future scenarios in the Asia-Pacific region, setting the tone for subsequent discussions on climate resilience strategies.

· Session 1 - Climate Challenges: Attribution and Prediction (August 7):

Global climate experts shared cutting-edge research on extreme weather events, seasonal to decadal prediction technologies (3-6 months and beyond), the use of AI and big data, and strategies for communicating uncertainty in forecasts. The session also explored how scientific insights can be effectively translated into actionable policy.

· Session 2 - Climate Challenges: Adaptation and Cooperation for Resilience, following the congratulatory remarks by Rep. Jiho Cha, Member of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Climate Crisis (August 8):

Discussions focused on the socio-economic value of climate information and sector-specific adaptation strategies in areas such as agriculture, disaster risk management, and public health. Innovative approaches to building resilience—particularly those involving AI applications and international cooperation—were presented and discussed.

· Panel Discussion (August 8):

Experts and stakeholders discussed how to strengthen links between climate information providers and end-users in the Asia-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of public-private-academic partnerships. The session highlighted the need for integrated approaches and shared practical models for sustainable regional cooperation.

“As APCC celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we remain committed to strengthening climate research and international collaboration,” said Dr. Hyungjin Kim, Acting Executive Director of APCC. “Our goal is to contribute meaningfully to addressing climate challenges and fostering a more resilient Asia-Pacific region.”