Welcome to the
International Environmental Research Institute (IERI)

Global environmental problems such as global warming have brought about a paradigm shift in sustainable development of mankind and environmental preservation, through technology research and international technical cooperation. In preparation of the Paris Agreement, both developed and developing countries submitted intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) showing the urgent requirements to combat climate change through technology and knowledge sharing among collaborative networks.

The IERI was founded in 2001 with the purpose of establishing a research institute for the UN University at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology(GIST). Our institute for many years, both domestically and overseas, has been contributing to the improvement of the international environment by educating researchers and supporting technologies in developing countries, as well as R&D to cope with climate change through our continued activities of joint, international environmental research.

With this effort, GIST joined the Climate Technology Center & Network (CTCN) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCC) in August 2016 and obtained the capacity to participate in CTCN's Technical Assistance(TA) projects for developing countries.

We established the foundation of a climate technology collaboration system by effectcely collecting, sharing, and supporting R&D activities. By the Korean government's roadmap for climate technology and the fourth industrial revolution, we are carrying out R&D projects to respond climate with a nine-year plan starting from 2017 based on GIST's vision of innovation and convergence.

Focused on issues related to climate change and the environment, we will continue our efforts to construct a research collaboration network, to develop scientific technology, and to train researchers, in order to play a leading role in the field of international climate technology and serve as a focal point for CTCN TA activities. We will also contribute to global environmental issues by participating in international climate change research and technology projects to transfrom the crisis of climate change into a driving force of growth. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that the path of collaborative research with many research institutes is open.