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.

I extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for organizing and participating in the 8th Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF), as I have already done several times in the past. Your presence, together with your unique perspectives and diverse expertise, enriches our collective pursuit of meaningful progress in this era of rapid transformation. 

In 2025, GEEF focused on serving as a platform for advancing collaboration and collective action. Together, we addressed core thematic areas such as climate action, social inclusion, digital innovation, and the empowerment of future generations.

Today, as we stand at the threshold of the “Technological Singularity,” our mission to harmonize innovation with human values has never been more critical. Each forum stands as a testament to the transformative power of unity in addressing the defining issues of our time.

 This year’s theme, namely “Time for Action: Emerging Technology & Global Solidarity,” serves as both a strategic roadmap and a moral rallying cry. It compels us to ensure that the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies does not create new divides, but instead helps to close the social, economic, and environmental gaps that hinder sustainable development. It reminds us that it is time to act without delay. We must leverage these powerful tools with urgency and purpose to build a future that is equitable, inclusive, and resilient for all.

 In addition, our core objectives — contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing climate change — are increasingly competing for attention with a range of other urgent global challenges.

 It is necessary, and in our common interest, to discuss and to find common positions on important and partly new topics and developments, such as the erratic policies of US President Trump, the war of Russia against Ukraine, the situation in Gaza after so many people have been killed on both sides, or the situation in Iran. No less important is the question of the role of the United Nations today, as well as the question of global economic development in the coming years.

 I hope that the insights and ideas exchanged here will not only spark transformative change but also deepen our shared commitment to a sustainable future.

Thank you once again for your participation. Together, let us act with urgency and purpose to bridge divides and build a future that is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable for all.
And finally, best wishes from Vienna, Austria, to all of you in the Republic of Korea.