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A Net-Zero Future Powered by Climate Tech: 2026 World Climate Industry Expo Opens in Busan

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that the 2026 World Climate Industry Expo will be held at BEXCO for three days from today, September 16, through September 18.

The World Climate Industry Expo was launched as an international expo in 2023 by integrating exhibitions and conferences in the climate and energy sectors, including the Korea Energy Show, which dates back to 1975. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that the event has been held in Busan.

This year’s expo is co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the World Bank (WB), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Through the expo, Busan Metropolitan City plans to provide a global platform for discussing international climate and energy issues and exploring solutions through cooperation.

Beginning with the official opening ceremony, the expo will feature a diverse range of programs, including 14 academic conferences such as the Climate and Energy Forum, an exhibition with approximately 550 participating companies, and business meetings.

At the opening ceremony, following opening remarks by the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment and welcoming remarks by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, leading figures in the domestic and international climate and energy sectors will take the stage, including Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), and Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In particular, IRENA joins the event for the first time this year, expanding last year’s Korea-IEA-WB collaboration into a global cooperation platform bringing together Korea, the IEA, IRENA, and the WB.

During the expo, 14 conferences will address major climate and energy issues facing the world.

The conferences will include global climate governance sessions led by international organizations such as the IEA to discuss global energy policies and technologies; domestic climate initiatives led primarily by Korean institutions to explore strategies for achieving carbon neutrality; and a climate solutions platform focused on the needs of climate-industry users.

Approximately 550 Korean and international companies, including major Korean companies such as Samsung and LG, will participate in the exhibition and showcase a wide range of innovative technologies in the climate and energy sectors.

The five exhibition halls will feature technologies spanning the full spectrum of the climate and energy sectors, including high-efficiency equipment, renewable energy, environmentally friendly technologies, carbon neutrality solutions, and meteorological observation equipment. A dedicated Climate Tech Special Zone will also showcase innovative technologies from climate-tech startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in one location.

A variety of additional events will also be offered, including business meetings with invited Korean and international buyers for export and sales consultations, docent-led tours featuring technologies from major companies, a climate quiz show, and upcycling activities.

During the expo, Busan Metropolitan City will operate a Busan Energy Policy Promotion Pavilion introducing the city’s major energy policies, as well as a hydrogen energy experience booth.

The Energy Policy Promotion Pavilion will consist of a policy promotion zone, consultation zone, and experience booth zone, presenting Busan Metropolitan City’s major energy policies, including those related to new and renewable energy.

The hydrogen energy experience booth, designed for young people and the general public, will conduct a hydrogen energy safety campaign through activities such as learning about the principles of hydrogen-based power generation and experiencing virtual reality (VR).

In particular, Busan Metropolitan City will hold the NEXT Solar Busan Conference at 3:00 p.m. on September 16, the first day of the expo, in Rooms 216–218 of BEXCO Exhibition Center 1.

Under the theme “From Ground to Space: Innovation Strategies for Next-Generation Solar Power,” the conference will feature keynote speeches, presentations, and a panel discussion by Korean and international experts, focusing on next-generation solar technologies and the development of space-based solar power.

Following opening remarks by Oh Seok-keun, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan Metropolitan City, Seok Sang-il, professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), and Stefaan De Wolf, professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), will deliver keynote speeches on the emergence and limitations of next-generation solar cells and on advances in high-efficiency tandem photovoltaic technology and its potential applications in space, respectively.

Lee Byung-hong, Part Leader at Hyundai Motor Company, will then present on the development of solar mobility technologies, while Moon Soo-jin, Center Leader at Hanwha Qcells, will discuss the commercialization of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells and the development of space-based solar power. A panel discussion involving the participants will follow the presentations.

Members of the public wishing to attend the expo may register on site at the BEXCO Auditorium or Exhibition Center 1 and participate free of charge.

Further information, including the main schedule, program lineup, and invited speakers, is available on the official website of the 2026 World Climate Industry Expo at https://www.wce.or.kr.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “Co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the World Bank (WB), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), this expo marks an important turning point for Busan as it emerges as a global hub for the climate industry.”

“With innovative technologies, companies, and experts from around the world gathering in Busan, we will make this an opportunity to create new partnerships and business opportunities in climate tech and net-zero industries and to showcase Busan’s future competitiveness to the world,” he added.