[Meeting Update] Chairman Choi Jai-chul Meets with Mayor Paula Southgate of Hamilton, New Zealand
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On May 16, Mr. Choi Jai-chul, Chairman of the Climate Change Center, held a meeting with Ms. Paula Southgate, Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand, to discuss climate crisis response strategies and potential areas of collaboration between the two institutions.
Hamilton is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing cities, where carbon emissions from the transportation sector have emerged as a critical challenge. Mayor Southgate highlighted the urgency of transitioning the city’s transport infrastructure, citing the city’s high dependency on private vehicles—with an average of more than three cars per household—and noting that transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after the manufacturing sector, particularly livestock-based industries. She emphasized the importance of expanding public transportation options, including railway systems.
During the meeting, Mayor Southgate expressed strong interest in the Climate Change Center’s flagship programs, including the Climate Change Leadership Academy and Climatus College. In particular, she commended Climatus College for empowering future generations to take a leading role in addressing the climate crisis and stated her intention to share information about the program with the Hamilton City Council. She also expressed interest in exploring the potential for joint projects in the future.
This meeting served as a meaningful step toward building a foundation for practical cooperation between the two institutions, and further discussions will be pursued to develop concrete areas of collaboration.
