In the summer of 2025, torrential rains swept across Northen Chungcheong Province and much of the nation, leaving widespread damage in their wake. Over just five days in mid-July, Cheongju recorded 342.2mm of rainfall, Seosan 578.3mm, and Sancheong, near Jirisan National Park a staggering 788mm. Downpours once described as “once-in-30-years” events by the Korea Meteorological Administration have now become almost annual occurences.

  Across Europe, relentless heat waves have pushed temperatures beyond 40℃, while in East Asia, cycles of heat waves and heavy rainfall threaten both daily life and urban infrastructure. The real concern is that such extreme weather events can no longer be dismissed as abnormal. Local authorities in Chungcheongbuk-do now interpret recurring heat waves, localized torrential downpours, and unusual heat surges as part of a “new normal.” Climate Emergency Action (CEA), an environmental advocacy group, has also warned that, “Today’s situation is clear evidence not of simple weather fluctuations, but of structural changes in the climate system itself.”

  This summer’s record-breaking downpours were not a random anomaly but evidence suggesting that global warming is fundamentally altering atmospheric dynamics. Kim Seong-un, Head of the Knowledge and Information Team at the Chungbuk Carbon Neutrality Support Center, analyzed the recent floods as evidence of a structural shift in the climate system rather than a passing weather event.

  “As global temperatures rise, the atmosphere holds more water vapor, and when this vapor combines with seasonal monsoon fronts or typhoons, it unleashes far greater rainfall over shorter periods,” Kim explained. He noted that such phenomena are amplified by the interaction between monsoon fronts and typhoons. When monsoon systems linger over the Chungcheong region, they collide with mountainous terrain, intensifying convection. At the same time, typhoons moving northward from the south supply additional vapor, creating localized torrential rains. “In the past, typhoons typically brought significant rainfall around late Aug., but recently they have been fueling heavy rains as early as June or July.”

  Data from CEA further underscores this trend. Between 1973 and 1982, localized rainstorms of more than 50mm per hour occurred just 2.4 times annually on average. From 2013 to 2022, that figure more than doubled to 5.7 times a year. Even more striking, since 2021 Seoul has experienced three consecutive years of “extreme rain events” exceeding 72mm per hour—storms once classified as “30-year events” that are now becoming routine.

  However, how strongly do people actually feel this sense of crisis? According to a Korea Research survey on climate change awareness conducted in late 2024, 87% of respondents said they felt the impact of climate change in their daily lives. While still a high figure, this was six points lower than in 2019. Notably, the share of those who said they felt it “very strongly” fell by 17 points, suggesting that sensitivity to the issue has waned even as extreme events continue to repeat.

  Similarly, 74% said they believed climate change would have serious consequences for their health, property, and overall lives still a majority, but 8 points lower than in 2019. These figures highlight a disconnect: although climate change is a present and ongoing reality, individuals are increasingly less likely to perceive it as an immediate threat.

  This erosion in public urgency is mirrored in institutional responses. Both Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju have announced carbon neutrality and green growth plans, but debates remain over their effectiveness. For example, Song Sang-ho, co-representative of CEA in Chungbuk, pointed out that “Cheongju pledged a 10% reduction in building energy emissions but allocated no budget for it, while only 0.45% of the transport budget was dedicated to reducing emissions.” He also pointed out that the province’s reliance on electric vehicle subsidies may have limited impact on cutting overall carbon output.

  “Carbon neutrality cannot be achieved by declarations alone,” Song emphasized. “Without structural shifts such as expanding public transportation and accelerating the transition to renewable energy, the climate crisis will only grow worse.”

  Campus climate clubs and initiatives like the Chungbuk Climate Supporters are at the forefront of local environmental efforts, serving as entry points for broader sustainability policies. Small everyday practices by students—saving energy, cycling or using public transportation—hold the power to transform campus culture. Equipped with fluency in social media and digital platforms, today’s students also have the unique ability to rapidly spread climate awareness and activism. On campus, they can lead by expanding low-carbon lifestyles such as reusing, energy conservation, and plant-based diets, while pressing university administrations to adopt concrete carbon neutrality plans.

  On Sept. 27, the 927 Climate Justice March will be held not only in Seoul but also in Cheongju, offering another platform for student participation. In addition, the monthly Daebo March—highlighting public transport, cycling, and pedestrian rights—along with lectures, forums, and other events, provides diverse opportunities for young people to get involved. In the era of climate crisis, the voices and actions of the younger generation are more than symbolic; they act as catalysts, spurring older generations to reflect and driving the social changes needed for a sustainable future.

  CEA defines the younger generation not as victims but as agents of change. Song emphasized, “The climate crisis is also a crisis of inequality. While older generations and industrialized nations bear the greater responsibility for carbon emissions, it is the youth, future generations, and poorer nations who shoulder the greatest burden of its impacts. Universities must foster low-carbon lifestyles on campus while also raising their political voices to hold governments and older generations accountable.” He added, “As centers of knowledge and debate, universities should be places where solutions to the climate crisis are researched and translated into policy proposals.”

  Kim echoed this call for structural responses. “The climate crisis is the result of systemic changes,” he said. “Chungcheongbuk-do, in cooperation with the Cheongju Meteorological Office, is conducting on-site measurements and in-depth studies on heat waves, tropical nights, and urban heat islands. We are also developing our own predictive models to strengthen data-driven preparedness against localized downpours and flash floods.”

  Torrential rains are no longer rare natural phenomena; they are a reality that we must face more and more often. Universities, too, can no longer remain passive observers—they must become active participants in climate action. Addressing the climate crisis is not a challenge for the distant future. It is here and now, in the everyday choices people make, in the policies universities adopt, and in the voices society raises. Together, these efforts form the collective power to confront the climate emergency.