The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sunghwan) will host “2026 Climate Change Week” from April 20 to 24 in observance of Earth Day (April 22). This year’s Climate Change Week will be held in conjunction with “Green Transformation International Week (GX Week, April 20-25).” It will serve as a platform for participation and shared understanding to promote a culture of carbon neutrality by bringing together international carbon-neutral technologies and policies with everyday climate actions by the public.

This year’s Climate Change Week theme is “GX for the Earth! Connecting the World through Net Zero Action.” It signifies that responding to the climate crisis is no longer a task limited to specific countries or a handful of experts, but one shaped collectively by everyday actions of the public, corporate innovation, and solidarity within the international community.

(e-receipt issuance) Samsung Electronics Service, Korea Digital Receipt; (use of reusable cups and containers) Carbon Bank of Korea, Happy Bridge, Circular Labs, Retum; (high-quality recyclables disposal) Green Go Round, Korea Environmental Information, Haenam-gun (Jeollanam-do), TerraCycle, Lightors; (shared bicycles) Changwon Leports Park (Changwon-si), Gbike (GCOO); (zero food waste practice) The Zero, Nuvilab, Innodigital, Hyundai Green Food; (tree planting) Tree Planet, Forest for Life; (installation of household balcony solar panels) Gwangju Metropolitan City ** Zero-emission vehicle (electric and hydrogen vehicle) rentals and shared bicycle usage items (KRW 100/km → KRW 200/km).

In addition, the MCEE will carry out a special promotional campaign in collaboration with Daangn Market. By jointly promoting social contribution activities, such as expanding a culture of carbon neutrality through everyday secondhand trading and neighborhood walking, and providing goods for vulnerable groups, it aims to present a virtuous cycle model in which the value of sharing leads to carbon neutrality.

To help the public feel more comfortable and familiar with climate action, special promotional content will also be introduced. This year’s newly released “climate action theme song (campaign song)” was composed and written by Yoon Il-sang, with participation from Miyeon of (G)I-DLE.

The theme song conveys the message that everyone’s small actions create a sustainable tomorrow. The released audio and music video will be used as key content in various climate action promotional campaigns.

A Climate Change Week promotional video, produced in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service, will also be released. Under the theme “Protecting the sustainable value of national heritage amid the climate crisis,” it reinterprets the wisdom of ancestors and modern technology through traditional folk paintings with a contemporary sensibility to convey the need for a green 

transformation. The produced music video and promotional video will be Climate Change Week will begin with an opening ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on April 20 at Yeosu Expo (located in Deokchung-dong, Yeosu), followed by a range of nationwide events and public campaigns, including Climate Science Exploration with Future Generations (April 20, Yeosu); Korea Climate Crisis Diagnosis Forum (April 21, Yeosu); Business Agreement Ceremony for New Participating Companies in the Carbon Neutrality Points Program (April 22, Seoul); Nationwide Lights-Off Event (April 22, nationwide); and a climate action theme song (campaign song).

First, a variety of participatory programs for future generations will be held. On April 20, the “Climate Science Exploration with Future Generations” event will take place at the National Yeosu Marine Meteorological Science Museum, offering hands-on experiences of the current state of the climate crisis and helping participants better understand the importance of carbon neutrality. In addition, the “Future Generation Climate Action Contest (Open Innovation Workshop),” where youth and young adults collaborate with companies to develop carbon neutrality ideas that can be reflected in actual corporate environmental policies, is scheduled to begin on April 22.

In addition, a Climate Change Week promotional pavilion will be operated for two days starting April 20 at the Yeosu Expo site, with participation from 16 institutions, companies, and organizations, including the Presidential Commission on Climate Crisis Response, the Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Midland Power, Yuhan-Kimberly, and the World Health Organization.

To support individual carbon neutrality practices and climate actions, a business agreement will be signed with 20 newly participating institutions and companies* in the Carbon Neutrality Points Program, and a double points accumulation event** will be conducted from April 17 to 30.* New participating institutions (companies) in the Carbon Neutrality Points Program: broadcast across everyday public spaces, including major train stations such as Seoul Station and Osong Station, as well as urban digital billboards.

On Earth Day, April 22, a nationwide lights-off event will take place for 10 minutes starting at 8:00 p.m.. Major public institutions, including government complexes in Seoul, Gwacheon, and Sejong, along with apartment complexes nationwide, corporate buildings (such as Lotte Hotel), and local landmarks (including Yeosu Dolsan Bridge, Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung, and Busan Gwangan Bridge) will participate, offering an opportunity to reflect on the severity of the climate crisis and the value of the planet.

Online public participation campaigns will also be further strengthened. Through the dedicated Climate Change Week website (www.gihoo.or.kr/earthday2026), visitors can take part in online campaigns such as creating “climate action villages” to encourage carbon neutrality practices, while also viewing the detailed schedule and promotional materials for the GX Week at a glance. Various online events, including participation verification for the “Earth Day lights-off event,” will be held throughout the week. Meanwhile, a wide range of commemorative events led 

by local governments and civil society groups will take place across the country.

Minister Kim Sunghwan of the MCEE stated, “The 2026 Climate Change Week will be a meaningful opportunity for each and every citizen to recognize themselves as a driver of climate action in the face of the global challenge of a ‘green transformation.’” He added, “Small actions in people’s daily lives will be the greatest force in advancing our country toward carbon neutrality.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com