News facts
Seoul, September 1, 2025: Government representatives from more than 20 countries and climate technology experts gathered today in Seoul to advance climate action. The 2025 Asia NDE Forum and Capacity Building Programme on Digitalization and Finance is hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) in partnership with the United Nations’ Climate Technology Centre and Network (UN CTCN) and the World Bank Korea Office. The event gathered Asian National Designated Entities (NDEs) to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation in climate technology transfer, and learn about the latest developments in technological solutions, digitization and financing for climate action. Participants include representatives from the UN CTCN, UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee, the World Bank, the National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT), the Green Climate Fund, Korean Development Bank, and Korea International Cooperation Agency.
The event will review new climate technology projects supported by the CTCN in the region and how they align with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), along with their respective national climate action plans. The event will also explore green digital infrastructure, how digital solutions – especially Artificial Intelligence – can enhance climate resilience and sustainability, and how countries can access finance for climate technology transfer.
Hosted by MSIT, participants will have the opportunity to learn from key technologies implemented in the country, including green hydrogen fuel cell technology. The capacity building programme will include a workshop on financing modalities to scale up digital transformation projects and an introduction to the World Bank’s portfolio of green digital infrastructure investments, including AI-enabled systems for energy efficiency, agriculture, and resilient infrastructure.
Quotes:
”It is very encouraging that other countries are benchmarking against Korea’s experience,” said Taek Ryeol Jeong, Director General, Future Energy and Public R&D Policy, Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea. “I hope that through this forum, we can share our experiences with various countries and further strengthen international cooperation for the global expansion of climate technology.”
“Technology per se is not development—it’s a tool. The real transformation happens when countries build their own capacity to adapt, govern, and innovate,” said Ariesta Ningrum, Director of UN CTCN. “Our aim is not just transferring tools, but building trust, knowledge, and local leadership.”
“Scaling climate technology requires more than pilots, it needs long-term capital and strong innovation ecosystems,” said Jason Allford, World Bank Group Country Manager for the Republic of Korea. “Through the World Bank’s Korea Digital Development Program—or KoDi—and by drawing on Korea’s leadership in digital and climate innovation, our collaboration with CTCN is helping countries turn ideas into impactful solutions.”
“South Korea’s achievements provide an important benchmark for countries like ours as we strive to localize digital technologies for climate adaptation,” said Sara Qais AI Haleeq, NDE of Jordan. “Through CTCN-supported pilots such as blockchain, AI, and roadmaps for data sovereignty, we see the value of this approach.”
“We believe the future lies in building domestic capabilities, not just importing innovation,” said Chanthearith Ou, NDE of Cambodia. “We’re here to learn from each other and to co-create solutions that align with our own development pathways, leveraging the partnership opportunities that the CTCN brings.”
About the UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (UN CTCN)
The CTCN is the implementation arm of the Technology Mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The Centre promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low-carbon, climate-resilient development at the request of developing countries.
For more information, please contact: Isabel Hagbrink, UN CTCN Communications Specialist, email: [email protected]