[BACO-25] Busan Heats Up in Search of Solutions to the Climate Crisis

Zhu Tong of Peking University Proposes "International Large-Scale Scientific Initiative"
Ham Yougeun of Seoul National University: "More Precise Ocean Data Needed to Advance AI Climate Prediction Systems"
Exhibition Booths Bustling with Marine Observation Equipment Companies

Busan is as heated as the midsummer weather, with scientists engaging in passionate discussions to overcome the climate crisis.

On July 22, the second day of the "2025 International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) International Conference on Meteorology, Oceanography, and the Cryosphere (BACO-25)" held at BEXCO in Busan under the theme "Connected Earth," around 1,500 scientists from 45 countries around the world gathered to seek joint solutions for overcoming the climate crisis. They did so either within their own divisions or in joint sessions involving two or more divisions.

Participants are taking a commemorative photo after the BOCO-25 opening ceremony. The sixth person from the right is Park Hyungjun, Mayor of Busan. To Mayor Park's left is Ha Kyungja, Chairperson of the BOCO-25 Organizing Committee, and to Ha's left is Lee Hoeseong, former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Provided by the BOCO-25 Organizing Committee

Zhu Tong, a leading atmospheric pollution expert and one of China’s most prominent scholars, is proposing an international cooperation plan to address fossil fuel consumption on July 22, under the theme "Health Impacts of Air Pollution and Climate Change."

Zhu Tong, Professor at the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Peking University and one of China’s top atmospheric pollution experts, delivered a keynote lecture on "Severe Health Damage from Air Pollution." He warned, "Compared to the pre-industrial era, human activities have significantly changed atmospheric composition, resulting in global air pollution and climate change," and added, "As a result, about 8 million people die prematurely every year due to indoor and outdoor air pollution."

He further emphasized, "International action is needed to coordinate scientific research and policy on air pollution control, climate change mitigation, and adaptation." He proposed the promotion of a large-scale international scientific initiative to conduct integrated research on the 'Nexus (ARCH)'?air pollution, climate change, and health?which are all interrelated.

Young scientists also showed their passion. Ham Yougeun, Professor of Environmental Management at Seoul National University and an expert in artificial intelligence (AI) climate prediction systems, presented at the meteorology and oceanography joint session the previous day under the topic "Data-Driven Global Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean-Land Model." He stated, "The accuracy of climate prediction systems using AI has improved significantly," and stressed, "To further enhance predictability regarding climate variability, more regional and temporal information about the ocean is needed, and this information must become more precise."

Axel Timmermann, Director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics and a leading authority in paleoclimate research, also argued in his presentation at the climate and cryosphere joint session the previous day that "the cultural evolution of humans as predators may have influenced climate change and accelerated the extinction of other species." He asserted that humanity must take proactive climate action. He explained that since the Pleistocene, about 2.5 million years ago?when physical evolution accelerated and the climate is believed to have been similar to today?humans have negatively impacted other species, including mammals.

Ha Kyungja, Chairperson of the BACO-25 Organizing Committee, stated, "Scientists seem passionate about sharing their research and combining it with the achievements of researchers from other fields to provide solutions," adding, "Many results are being presented that can benefit industry, disaster response, and security."

An employee of Ocean Tech Co., Ltd., a company that imports, manufactures, and sells marine observation equipment, is explaining the equipment on display. Photo by Kim Jonghwa.

The enthusiasm of ordinary people seeking to take climate action is also high. Ha, who watched the documentary film "Here Now Project" screened at the Busan Cinema Center Small Theater on July 20, said, "I was surprised when I met citizens who watched the film." She conveyed the audience’s reactions: "Even though it was a documentary, viewers were able to indirectly experience extreme weather?such as heavy snowfall in Texas and fist-sized hail in dry southern Europe, regardless of season or location?and realized why climate action is important."

Companies operating exhibition booths are also busy. Ocean Tech Co., Ltd., a company that imports, manufactures, and sells marine observation equipment, is busy responding to inquiries about equipment such as the Wave Blyboard, a non-powered and unmanned observation device. Hong Daeun, an employee at Ocean Tech, explained, "Most foreign visitors have experience using the equipment, while Korean visitors mostly ask about the strengths and weaknesses of the devices."

Joint and collaborative research with industry is also being discussed. Lee Myungin, Professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology and Secretary General of the BACO-25 Organizing Committee, said, "Meetings between participating companies and scientists have taken place at the exhibition," adding, "With high interest from companies, business meetings with researchers are being arranged immediately, and many discussions on joint and collaborative research are underway."

Chairperson Ha emphasized, "The purpose of such academic conferences is to gain scientific consensus by presenting one’s research results and to officially disseminate them," and added, "Along with achieving this goal, we will work together to ensure that the opinions presented are actually reflected in policy."