Yeosu Selected as Final Candidate City for '2026 UNFCCC Climate Week'

A Stepping Stone Toward Hosting COP33
Advancing as a Leading City in Climate Action

Yeosu City in South Jeolla Province (Mayor Chung Kimyung) announced on September 30 that it has been selected as the final candidate city for South Korea to host the '2026 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Week.'

Climate Week serves as a platform for preliminary discussions ahead of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP), and is a major international event where climate agendas from various countries and regions are reflected in the official COP agenda. More than 5,000 participants, including representatives from 198 countries, international organizations, and NGOs, are expected to attend, with high-level meetings, implementation forums, and agenda-specific sessions scheduled to take place.

Yeosu City has been selected as the final candidate city for South Korea to host the "2026 United Nations Climate Change Convention Climate Week." Photo by Yeosu City

This selection process involved document screening and presentation evaluations among local governments nationwide. Yeosu City was chosen as the final candidate city in recognition of its experience in hosting international events, such as the 2012 Yeosu World Expo, and its outstanding capabilities in the climate and environmental sectors, highlighted by the 'Yeosu Declaration' on marine ecosystem protection.

In particular, Yeosu's commitment as a pioneering city in climate action-having hosted the nation's first Climate Protection Week since 2008-and its excellent infrastructure contributed positively to its selection.

Mayor Chung Kimyung stated, "Being selected as the final candidate city is a strategic stepping stone toward attracting COP33 in 2028, and, in connection with the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, it presents an opportunity to showcase the climate leadership of both South Korea and Yeosu to the international community. Through hosting Climate Week, we will engage in global discussions on a sustainable future and further elevate Yeosu's international standing."

Meanwhile, in April, the city visited the global headquarters of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the UNFCCC Secretariat to promote its bid for COP33 and the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, as well as to discuss the necessity of hosting Climate Week, continuing its proactive international cooperation efforts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.