CLIMATE CHANGE CENTER was established in 2008 as Korea's first non-governmental organization
to promote the seriousness of climate change and respond to climate change.
[Field Sketch] How Is Our Campus Responding to the Climate Crisis This Year? – 2025 University Climate Crisis Response Assessment
2025-11-11[Field Sketch] How Is Our Campus Responding to the Climate Crisis This Year? – 2025 University Climate Crisis Response Practices Assessment
Responding to the climate crisis is no longer optional – it has become a fundamental part of how universities are run. But how prepared are the campuses where students spend their daily lives? Since 2023, the Climate Change Center has been conducting the “University Climate Crisis Response Practices Assessment” each year, targeting the 20 universities in Seoul with the highest greenhouse gas emissions. This year again, a team of 50 university student monitors walked through campuses themselves to observe what is happening on the ground.
Based on two years of accumulated experience, the 2025 assessment refined its indicators and was conducted using a more advanced and field-oriented methodology.
■ The third year of the survey : refining indicators to fit on-the-ground realities
The 2025 survey was carried out after upgrading the assessment indicators and methodology to address limitations identified in previous years and reflect feedback from the field. The 18th group of the Climate Change Center’s university student climate activists, USavers, formed a leadership group and took the lead in both the indicator refinement process and the on-site survey.
To minimize discrepancies between universities, a pilot test was conducted in advance. The leadership group then joined each survey team to guide the actual field assessment based on what they had explored. The monitoring team also received prior training to deepen their understanding of the process.
Moreover, the previous interview-centered awareness assessment was converted into a more detailed perception survey, allowing students’ awareness and lived experience of the climate crisis to be measured in quantifiable terms.
■ Climate Crisis Response on Campus, seen through the Eyes and Steps of Student Monitors
Using the improved indicators, the student monitoring teams visited all 20 high-emitting universities in Seoul and carried out on-site assessments.
What stood out most at first glance was the widespread presence of recycling infrastructure – and the remaining challenges behind it. While most universities had installed basic recycling bins, recurring issues were observed in actual operation, such as mixed disposal caused by labeling errors or confusing sorting criteria, and a lack of food waste bins. These problems, already identified last year, were once again confirmed in this year’s survey.
On the other hand, some universities showcased more advanced practices: robust reusable container systems in cafeterias and cafés, digital information displays (DID) promoting climate action, and various facilities set up across campus to encourage the use of reusables. These examples showed how a well-designed environment can make sustainable behavior easier for students.
Student monitors commonly pointed out that “recycling and resource circulation cannot be left solely to individual will – we need operational designs that make action possible.”
■ Asking students : “How is your university responding to the climate crisis right now?”
A perception survey of 497 students enrolled at the 20 universities was conducted to examine the gap between institutional policies and on-the-ground experiences.
First, awareness of the climate crisis itself was very high. However, 70.6% of respondents answered, “I feel the climate crisis, but it is difficult to turn that awareness into action.” Only 24.1% said they practice climate-friendly behaviors consistently. This suggests that while interest and willingness are high, the environmental and institutional foundations that support actual practice on campus remain insufficient.
Students’ evaluation of their universities’ climate efforts was similar. The majority rated their university’s response as “average,” and only 5.6% responded that their school was “very proactive.” In other words, systems may be in place, but the changes felt by members of the community are still limited.
This perception gap was further highlighted in response to the question, “Are you aware of any climate- or resource-circulation-related activities at your university?” A striking 81.7% answered, “Not really.” This reveals that existing initiatives are not being effectively communicated to students through outreach or guidance.
The changes students hoped for were very concrete. The top priority was reducing single-use products (81.5%), followed by improvements in cafeteria and café operations, encouraging reusable containers, and upgrading recycling systems. These responses show that students are calling for practical changes that they can immediately experience in their daily campus life.
■ Results of the 2025 University Climate Crisis Response Assessment
Combining three categories – facilities, operations, and awareness – Korea University ranked first with a total score of 107.27, showing the greatest improvement. The university climbed 13 places from 14th the previous year. Its efforts to improve its recycling system, expand reusable container infrastructure, and strengthen the operational foundation of its dedicated department contributed significantly to its higher score.
It was followed by Chung-Ang University (106.25), Konkuk University (98.08), Sungkyunkwan University (93.79), and Ewha Womans University (89.11). A common trait among the top-ranked universities was a structural approach that links systems, operations, and facilities – such as offering climate and ESG-related courses, publishing ESG reports, and building systems that enable continuous practice.
The student monitoring teams shared a key insight from this year’s survey: “The problem lies not in willingness, but in structures.” Through their on-the-ground work, they saw how seemingly minor factors – like a short message on a sign or the placement of a recycling bin – can determine whether climate-friendly actions are actually taken.
They also expressed hope that this survey will not only drive change at the 20 universities assessed, but also spark positive transformation at campuses that were not part of the survey this year.
Going forward, Climatus College will continue to act as a platform for improving campus environments and sharing information, amplifying the voices and experiences of university student monitoring teams, and supporting universities in playing a responsible role in this era of climate crisis.
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