[Field Sketch] U-SAVERS 18th Cohort: A Record of Youth Climate Leaders
2025-11-28
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■ Nine Months of Climate Journey
U-SAVERS, the university student climate action group under the Climate Change Center(CCC), has spearheaded proactive youth climate action throughout 2025. Beginning their 18th cohort in February 2025, the 27 selected student climate activists designed and implemented a range of on- and offline programs based on three core themes: Action, Education, and Outreach. Alongside the Climatus College program, the 18th cohort was organized into three teams—Climate Action, Climate Education, and Climate Outreach—each carrying out its own thematic project.
The Climate Action Team conducted Cultural Heritage Termite Monitoring, exploring biodiversity and climate adaptation. Visiting Korean Confucian academies with experts, they witnessed firsthand how climate change accelerates termite damage, threatening both the structural integrity and cultural value of heritage sites, and communicated these findings to the public.
The Climate Education Team focused on resource circulation, operating an upcycled waste-vinyl planting booth at local events and festivals. This experience led them to join the West Sea Five Islands Peace Boat Project, where they provided environmental education to students in Baengnyeongdo Island and residents of Daecheongdo Island.
The Climate Outreach Team commemorated the International Day of Clean Air with a sky-themed personality test campaign and conducted the Plastic School Attack project—evaluating zero-waste and climate-action levels across major universities in Seoul.
■ Growing Through Experience: Becoming Climate Leaders
On November 28 (Fri), U-SAVERS 18th held their completion ceremony, marking the end of their nine-month climate journey. During the final presentation, students’ efforts, passion, and personal growth were vividly reflected in their stories. For many, U-SAVERS was more than an extracurricular activity—it became a catalyst for exploring career paths and reimagining their future.
“I gained confidence that I could actually work in the environmental field.”
“I started thinking seriously about how my major can connect with climate issues.”
These reflections show the meaningful transformation before and after joining the program.
University students and young people need multiple entry points to engage with climate issues.
For those comfortable with everyday practice—Climate Action.
For those skilled in education and engagement—Climate Education.
For those drawn to messaging and communication—Climate Outreach.
Not everyone needs to become a policy negotiator or researcher. We need designers, communicators, engineers, teachers, public officials, activists—people who can practice climate leadership in diverse roles across society. When these varied pathways are open, young people can participate longer, with more joy, and with stronger ownership in climate action.
Looking ahead, U-SAVERS 19th will be designed to address emerging climate issues more deeply, strengthening both data-driven analysis skills and on-the-ground implementation capacity, so that young people can grow into true agents of climate action in 2026.
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