[Field Report] SGI YOUTH+ 4 Kick-off & First Lecture — Beginning the Journey to Design the Future at the Intersection of Climate and AI > 게시글

SGI YOUTH+ 4: Asking New Questions in the Age of Climate Crisis

– Youth Exploring Climate Issues Through AI and Data

 

In the summer of 2025, two new keywords have emerged in the conversation on climate action: AI and data. And with these powerful tools, a group of passionate young people have come together to explore how they can help build a more sustainable world.

 

On July 25, the SGI YOUTH+ 4th officially launched its journey. Co-hosted by Seoul Guarantee Insurance Company and Climatus College, SGI YOUTH+ is a youth program now in its fourth year. Since its inception, the program has worked to bridge young people and society for a more sustainable future. This year, the core theme is “Using AI and Public Data in the Era of Climate Crisis,” encouraging participants to explore how technology can help tackle the pressing challenges of our time.

 

 

The launch event opened with an expert lecture by Professor Wonchul Jang of Seoul National University, who delivered a talk titled “Digital Literacy and Data-Driven Decision Making.”
Through everyday examples, Professor Jang highlighted the importance of reading and analyzing data correctly. Citing real-life cases like election conspiracy theories and lottery manipulation rumors, he demonstrated how data can be misinterpreted, and how misinformation can severely impact public trust.

 

He emphasized that making sound, data-driven decisions requires more than just numbers—it requires an understanding of statistical bias, and the ability to communicate findings effectively through storytelling and visualization.

 

 

After the lecture, participants introduced themselves and shared their personal interests and motivations for joining the program. It was a meaningful moment for connection, laying the foundation for future collaboration. With members coming from diverse academic backgrounds and regions, the group quickly built a strong sense of anticipation for the journey ahead.

 

The day continued with a team-building session, where participants were grouped into four teams and assigned specific topics related to AI and data. Each team conducted quick research using public datasets and presented their findings, drawing connections between climate issues, policy, and technology.

 

Despite the limited time, participants engaged enthusiastically, developing not only teamwork but also a basic understanding of data exploration and analysis. The session served as a solid first step in thinking more concretely about each participant’s personal area of interest within the broader climate-AI-data intersection.

 

But SGI YOUTH+ is more than just a education program. Over the coming months, participants will work with real public datasets, experiment with AI tools, and use no-code platforms to design their own climate data projects. The final outcomes will be shared with the public, sparking further dialogue and leading to new questions and ideas.

 

While AI may seem cold and complex, in the hands of these young changemakers, it becomes a creative and accessible language for addressing the discomforts of reality.
From the flow of single-use plastics to urban heat island effects to the temperature changes experienced by climate-vulnerable communities—when these issues are translated into numbers and patterns, data becomes a shared tool for everyone, not just experts.

SGI YOUTH+ 4 is only at the beginning of its journey. What data they will collect, how they will interpret it, and what solutions they will propose remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear: that blank canvas is already being filled—one insight, one question, one solution at a time—by youth standing at the frontlines of the climate crisis.

In this era, climate leadership calls for both intuition and analysis. SGI YOUTH+ is shaping a new form of youth leadership that embodies both.

Because the first step to change always begins with a question—And today, that question is being rewritten in the language of climate data.