Can AI Solve Climate Problems? Kakao Hosts Climate Tech Startup Summit

[Financial News] Kakao Impact Foundation hosted the Climate Tech Startup Summit (CTSS) in Jeju. The foundation plans to expand practical cooperation among capital, businesses, policymakers and researchers, with climate tech startups and their technologies at the center, while helping connect Korea’s climate tech sector with the global ecosystem.
According to industry sources on the 14th, this year’s summit was held under the theme “Climate Runs on AI, AI Runs on Energy.” As AI is transforming how climate tech operates across the board, the event was designed to examine both AI solutions to climate problems and the electricity and energy needed to power them. About 150 experts from various fields—including climate tech startups, investment and finance, government and public institutions, businesses, and research and academia—attended the event.
At the grand keynote session, Haewon McJeon, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustainability at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Ha Jung-woo, standing vice chair of the National AI Strategy Committee, gave presentations titled “Climate Runs on AI” and “AI Runs on Power,” respectively.
Professor McJeon explained how AI is changing policy analysis and decision-making for climate action. Vice Chair Ha addressed power-related challenges in the AI era, including rising electricity demand from data centers and competition to secure computing resources. A special keynote discussion followed, moderated by Han Sang-yeop, CEO of Sopoong Ventures.
To mark the summit’s fifth anniversary, 11 organizations from the public, private and academic sectors jointly declared the launch of Korea Climate Week. Korea Climate Week will serve as a collaborative platform for finding solutions to climate problems and connecting Korea’s climate tech sector with the world. Its first event is targeted for September 2027.
The declaration was joined by Kakao Impact Foundation and Sopoong Ventures, as well as The Asan Nanum Foundation, dcamp, Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC), climate tech-related associations, and universities and research institutions.
Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Seong-hwan attended the summit and said, "It is time for Korea to take the lead in addressing the climate crisis, a global challenge. In particular, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will build a strong foundation and fulfill its responsibilities so that the technological capabilities climate tech startups have developed can expand their potential onto the global stage."
Ryu Suk-young, chairman of Kakao Impact Foundation, said, "I hope the meetings and cooperation that founders, researchers, investors and policymakers have built by gathering in Jeju for the fifth consecutive year will become a new milestone for the global climate tech ecosystem, extending beyond Korea."
Meanwhile, the Climate Tech Startup Summit is a climate tech networking event that brings together investors, businesses, and government and policy experts, with climate tech startups at its center.
[email protected] Jang Min-kwon Reporter