By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Climate Change in Seoul on July 1, 2025.

It was organized by the Korea Institute of Energy Research and supported by the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, the Korea Startup Accelerator and Early Stage Investors Association, and the Chungnam Content Agency.

As AI technologies play an increasingly significant role in addressing climate change and accelerating the energy transition, this conference brought together over 450 participants—including representatives from governments, industry, research institutes, academia, international organizations, and the diplomatic corps in Korea—to share the latest technological developments and explore ways for enhanced international cooperation.

Held under the theme 'AI for Climate and Energy,' the conference featured 15 speakers from nine countries—including the Republic of Korea, the United States, Japan, France, and Germany—as well as international organizations such as the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The sessions explored how AI can be leveraged in the climate and energy sectors, and participants engaged in in-depth discussions on opportunities, challenges, and possibilities for future collaboration.

The first session, titled 'AI for Climate,’ focused on AI applications in carbon emissions tracking and reduction, climate adaptation, climate forecasting, and the mobilization of climate finance.

The second session, titled 'AI for Energy,’ examined the role of AI in optimizing energy consumption and management, improving energy efficiency, forecasting the variability of renewable energy sources, and integrating renewables into power grids.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Chung Keeyong, emphasized that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and noted that, despite notable progress, a gap remains between global ambitions and actual implementation.

He reaffirmed Korea’s strong commitment to climate action and its continued role as a bridge between developed and developing countries. He also stressed the timeliness and necessity of the conference in examining the complex and emerging intersection of climate and AI, which presents both immense potential and multifaceted challenges.

Ambassador Chung further underscored the importance of international cooperation in developing and disseminating AI technologies for climate action and energy efficiency, while also addressing emerging challenges such as the increased power consumption driven by wider AI use.

This conference is considered a meaningful step in promoting dialogue among diverse stakeholders from both the public and private sectors and strengthening international cooperation, particularly as the role of AI in the climate and energy domains rapidly expands.