Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasized the critical importance of strengthened climate cooperation between China and South Korea, particularly in the wake of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Speaking at the China-ROK Roundtable on Climate Change Cooperation during the Boao Forum for Asia, Ban highlighted the unique position of both nations as economic powerhouses in Northeast Asia and their pivotal role in the global transition toward sustainable development.
Ban stressed that climate change represents the defining challenge of our era, noting that “no nation, however powerful, resourceful or advanced, can address it alone.” He emphasized the borderless nature of atmospheric issues, stating that “the atmosphere does not recognize national borders” and therefore “our solutions must also transcend borders.”
The former UN chief expressed particular disappointment at the United States’ second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the Trump administration, recalling how Chinese-American collaboration had been instrumental in establishing the landmark accord. “This is a historic issue which we must not forget,” Ban remarked, adding that while he expects the US to eventually return to the agreement, valuable time is being lost in the interim.
Ban praised existing Sino-Korean cooperation through investments in renewable energy, green technologies, and climate innovation. He identified carbon markets, green finance, and technological exchange as essential areas for continued collaboration. Such partnerships, he noted, not only build understanding and share best practices but also send a powerful signal that regional cooperation can effectively address global challenges.
Warning that “the window for meaningful climate action is narrowing rapidly,” Ban concluded that the choices made today will determine the future left for coming generations. His address underscored the urgent need for bilateral cooperation that could have ripple effects across the region and beyond.