Dr Paul Jefferiss, Director of the Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, will deliver a keynote presentation at the Seoul ESG Forum on 24 September 2025. His address, titled ‘ESG and Urban Competitiveness: The Social Responsibility of City Governments’, will examine how cities can lead the way in embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles to tackle climate change and enhance urban sustainability and competitiveness.
The forum is hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Council and organised by the Seoul Institute, and the Korea Management Association (KMA). Its central theme is ‘ESG Management: Future Policies and Development Directions.’
Cities account for two-thirds of global energy use and more than 70 per cent of carbon emissions. They are also home to the majority of the world’s population, making them both highly vulnerable to climate impacts and uniquely placed to deliver solutions. Dr Jefferiss will highlight how applying ESG principles at city scale can strengthen resilience, foster innovation, and improve the quality of life for citizens.
The presentation will showcase international examples of best practice, including Singapore’s investment in green infrastructure, Copenhagen’s co-creation approach to innovation, Cambridge’s sustainable urban development, Boston’s Green New Deal, and Helsinki’s AI-enabled energy transition. Together, these case studies demonstrate the potential of cities to act as global exemplars of sustainability.
Dr Jefferiss will also introduce the concept of ESEG—an ESG framework tailored for cities by expanding it to include the economy, which is missing from the traditional ESG concept, just as governance is missing from standard definitions of sustainability. By balancing environmental stewardship, social cohesion, economic growth, and strong governance, ESEG provides a more complete foundation for cities to deliver long-term prosperity and meet their social responsibility to current and future generations.
“Cities are major contributors and vulnerable to a climate change, but they also hold the keys to solutions. Embedding ESEG in city planning and management creates not just climate resilience, but thriving, competitive, and better places for people to live and businesses to settle – now and in the future.”
Dr Jefferiss, Director, Centre for Climate Engagement
By presenting at the Forum, CCE reinforces its mission of bridging the gap between research and real-world action by providing practical insights for governments, businesses, and civil society to accelerate climate action. The topic complements CCE’s work on the locally determined contributions (LDC) project funded by Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme, which supports local authorities in developing effective pathways to net zero.
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