[Science Insight] Solutions from Leading Experts for a Planet in Crisis as Torrential Rain and Heatwaves Become the New Normal

This past week was marked by significant damage caused by record-breaking torrential rains. Watching an interview with a meteorologist, who noted a meaningful correlation between the low-pressure system that dumped a month's worth of rain on southern regions in just a few hours and the rising sea temperatures around the Korean Peninsula, I was reminded of how profoundly global warming and extreme weather events are impacting our lives.

In this context, it is particularly significant that leading scholars in the fields of climate, air pollution, and glaciers are gathering in Busan for an international academic conference. From July 20 to July 25, more than 1,500 experts and officials from over 40 countries are participating in the "2025 IUGG Weather-Ocean-Cryosphere International Academic Conference (BACO-25)" at BEXCO in Busan.

The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) holds joint academic conferences every four years, bringing together its eight divisions: meteorology, oceanography, cryosphere, geodesy, hydrology, geomagnetism, seismology, and volcanology. "BACO-25," jointly hosted by the meteorology, oceanography, and cryosphere divisions, is being held for the first time in 16 years. After Busan won the hosting rights over Manchester, United Kingdom, in a final round against Cape Town, South Africa, in 2017, the event was postponed for nine years due to COVID-19 and other reasons. 2025 has also been designated by the United Nations as the "International Year of Glacier Preservation," and starting this year, March 21 will be celebrated annually as "World Glacier Day," adding further significance to the event.

As torrential rain, heatwaves, and storms become everyday occurrences in this "era of climate collapse," the solutions proposed by experts on how to protect the Earth are drawing attention. Let's hear from the keynote speakers at this conference.

"Responding to climate change is not an obstacle to economic growth, but a new engine for growth." This is the consistent message from economist Lee Hoesung, who has argued against the conventional belief that environmental regulations or carbon reduction hinder economic growth, emphasizing that a transition to a low-carbon economy will bring greater economic benefits in the long term. Lee served as the sixth chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from January 2015 to July 2023 and currently heads the Carbon-Free Alliance.

Another scholar, Professor Zhu Tong of Peking University in China, has pointed out that China's air pollution is not just a problem for specific cities, but a widespread issue caused by the movement of pollutants between neighboring regions and complex chemical reactions. He has consistently emphasized that China's chronic air pollution is multifaceted, and that regional cooperation and a transition in the energy structure are crucial. He has called for nationwide regional cooperation and an integrated pollution management system.

Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology argued that the rapid warming of the Indian Ocean is a critical indicator and warning sign of global climate change. He likened the Indian Ocean to a "canary in a coal mine," stressing that the climate changes and extreme weather events occurring in this region provide important clues for predicting the future of other marine and climate systems worldwide.

The experts' messages are both consistent and concrete. In countries with significant geographic and diversity, such as India, tailored climate action plans that consider the characteristics and vulnerabilities of each region are needed. They also highlighted the importance of improving predictive models and early warning systems to prepare for disasters. Furthermore, they advocated for installing weather observation stations in all schools to serve as local climate hubs and for strengthening climate education.

Rather than simply blaming the skies, now is the time to unite global efforts in research on meteorological phenomena, developing countermeasures, and actively practicing greenhouse gas reduction.