GEEF

Welcome to the Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) 2026. It is my distinct privilege to welcome you to GEEF 2026. This year, under the theme “Time for Action : Emerging Technology & Global Solidarity,” we convene to explore one of the most transformative frontiers of our time. We are here to examine how artificial intelligence(AI) and other emerging technologies can serve as powerful catalysts to accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At a time of rapid technological and societal transformation, Yonsei University is advancing its vision to cultivate future-ready leaders through interdisciplinary education, digital innovation, and research that responds to global challenges. By strengthening collaboration across science, technology, and the humanities, Yonsei seeks to ensure that technological progress contributes to human dignity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

Now in its 8th year, GEEF embodies this mission by connecting knowledge with action through inclusive global dialogue. This forum has grown into a vital global platform, bringing together leaders, innovators, and experts to bridge the gap between technological potential and human values. By fostering global solidarity, we aspire to guide the trajectory of innovation so that it leaves no one behind.

As we embark on this critical dialogue, I invite each of you to join us in envisioning a future where technology serves as a bridge, not a barrier. Together, let us seize this moment to ensure that the dawn of this new era empowers every member of the global community. The time for action is now.

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the 8th Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF). Under this year’s theme, “Time for Action: Emerging Technology & Global Solidarity”, we gather to address one of the most defining challenges of the 21st century: ensuring that the digital revolution serves the common good.

Since its inception, GEEF has steadfastly championed the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As we approach the “Technological Singularity”, where the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) may transcend human intelligence, our shared mission has never been more urgent. We must ensure that emerging technologies and AI are not sources of inequality, but powerful instruments to accelerate our progress toward the SDGs.

As the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, I have seen that technology alone cannot solve our problems. It is the spirit of global solidarity and our shared ethical compass that drive true progress. The insights we exchange at GEEF 2026 must go beyond technical innovation to encompass the protection of human dignity and the empowerment of the marginalized.

Sustainable development is not merely a distant ideal but a pathway to a future of equity and opportunity. In this era of rapid technological advancement, our commitment to “Leaving No One Behind” must be the cornerstone of every innovation. Each of us―innovators, policymakers, and citizens―holds a vital role in guiding these technologies toward a sustainable and inclusive future.

I am proud to see this forum continue to spark meaningful action.

Together, let us embrace this technological dawn with courage and wisdom.

Thank you.