"Green Transition Is Now a Competition": 2026 Global Green Growth Week

Ambassadors from around the world walk along Seoul's Jeong-dong-gil, led by a traditional royal guard procession.

In their hands, the ambassadors hold bojagi (traditional Korean wrapping cloths) inscribed with their wishes for a green future.

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the 2026 Global Green Growth Week took place around the Jeong-dong area in Seoul from October 26 to today (October 30).

Global Green Growth Week is an international event where governments, international organizations, and businesses come together for a week to seek solutions for "green growth," which aims to foster economic growth while protecting the environment.

Established under South Korea's leadership, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which has 55 member states, hosts the event annually in Seoul.

[Ban Ki-moon / President, Global Green Growth Institute: The crises and challenges we face in the 21st century must be solved together by everyone. That is why we have gathered here in Seoul.]

While the Climate Weeks in New York and London serve as stages for countries to announce climate pledges, Global Green Growth Week is a venue where the demands of developing countries, technology, and capital meet to translate into actual projects.

This year's key theme is "competition for the green transition."

The core message is that climate response must be viewed as a competition tied to the survival of nations and businesses.

New challenges brought on by the spread of AI were also addressed.

It is projected that global data center power demand by 2030 will exceed Japan's total electricity consumption, prompting the initial discussions for a "Global Green AI Partnership" to jointly tackle the skyrocketing demand for electricity and cooling water.

[Kim Sang-hyeop / Director-General, Global Green Growth Institute: The green transition is no longer just about environmental protection. It has now become a core driver that dictates economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and technological innovation.]

At various cultural events held outside the conference venue, Lee Ji-hoon, the runner-up of SBS's "Our Ballad" Season 1, also took the stage.

The four-day event draws to a close today.

The Global Green Growth Institute plans to release its first-ever country-by-country green industry competitiveness rankings next month, and expand the scope of analysis worldwide starting next year.

Additionally, the organization aims to attract private investment by creating an international carbon market where developing countries can trade their carbon reduction achievements.

(Reported by So Hwan-uk | Camera by Kim Sang-yoon and Park Woo-jin | Edited by Lee Gi-eun | Designed by Cho Seung-hyun | Produced by Knowledge Contents IP Division)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.