Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi has taken the lead in addressing the urban climate crisis. He is currently active as a Goodwill Ambassador for Climate Crisis Resilience at the Korean Red Cross.
At 9:30 a.m. on the 2nd, Lee Seung-gi gave a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Urban Collaboration Platform (UCP) international conference held at Korea House in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Lee Seung-gi stated, "According to a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there have been over 12,000 disasters related to extreme weather, climate, and water from 1970 to 2021, resulting in the deaths of 2 million people."
He continued, "90% of these occurred in developing countries. The economic loss amounts to 4.2 trillion dollars (approximately 5,590 trillion KRW)," highlighting the severity of the climate crisis.
In 2022, the International Red Cross and Crescent Societies adopted a resolution titled 'Strengthening Community Resilience in Cities, Our Way Forward.'
The resolution includes a promise that "by 2025, 50 cities will adapt to climate change, and 250 million people will be protected from heatwaves."
Introducing this, Lee Seung-gi said, "We will look back on the Red Cross's efforts and share each other’s experiences over the next three days. I pledge to always participate in and support the creation of resilient cities and communities."
The conference opened on the 2nd with the theme, "Our Promise: Building Urban Climate Resilience Together." Around 100 urban and disaster resilience experts from 26 countries gathered to discuss international solidarity.
Lee Seung-gi was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for Climate Crisis Resilience in September 2023. He has been actively engaged in raising awareness about climate and environmental disasters and spreading measures to strengthen resilience.
Last year, he participated as a speaker at the '5th International Disaster Resilience Seminar.' He is also actively leading climate resilience response campaigns.
Meanwhile, Lee Seung-gi's connection with the Red Cross began with his participation in the Red Cross Youth (RCY) program. He has donated a total of 760 million KRW to the Red Cross.
Additionally, in December 2022, he donated 2 billion KRW to Seoul National University Children's Hospital, providing warm assistance for the treatment of young patients and setting a good example.
<Photo provided by Big Planet Made Entertainment>