News Blog

Members of the TH!NK GLOBAL Network and partners of the Hanns Seidel Foundation working on the HSF Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change particpated in the Virtual Masterclass - Environmental Advocacy and Impact within Civil Society. The masterclass was guided by three renowned international experts: Farah Atyyat, an environmental journalist of Al-Ghad newspaper in Jordan; Jhoanna Cifuentes, co-founder and executive director of the NGO Climalab in Columbia; and Marcos Nordgren, a Bolivian biologist and environmental science specialist. Each expert shared unique perspectives and strategies for effective political advocacy in the climate field. Farah Atiat led a session on communication planning and media relations, emphasizing the role of strategic communication in influencing public policy. She stressed the need for...

On 14 April 2025, Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi met with Mr. Kirom Salohiddin, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea, at the Embassy in Seoul. The meeting focused on key issues including biodiversity conservation in glacier regions, the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s GMACC activities, and water-related challenges in Tajikistan. Additionally, the HSF delegation will participate in the upcoming High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, to be held in Tajikistan in May, to continue and deepen discussions on these topics.

The Central Asian Flyway of migratory birds encompasses 26 so-called “range states” from Russia to India, from the Near East to China. Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Korea as part of the global climate and environment network GMACC supports the emerging Initiative for the Central Asian Flyway, which has been decided by the Convention on Migratory Species in their conference in Sarmakand, Uzbekistan, in 2024. As part of their support for transboundary NGO cooperation,  together with Fond Priroda and the Central Asian Conservation Network, a network of NGO in Central Asian states, organized a workshop on April 8, 2025, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The conference opened with remarks by Jeremie Berlioux, Director of the Nature Foundation, Kyrgyzstan, who welcomed more than 30 participants...

  Central Asia (here mainly meaning Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, but also including Mongolia, Turkmenistan and more countries) is geo-politically and geo-economically a region of utmost importance due to resources, a strategic position between China and Russia, and an its important role in fighting political (in particular Islamic) extremism etc. This is why the EU has a keen interest in improving relations to the region, which for a long had underwent transition from post-socialism largely under the shadow of Russia. At the same time, the region is of importance for environmental cooperation: while there is abundant biodiversity in some places, and the mountainous regions are part of the “3rd pole” (the mountainous cryosphere of glaciers which hold in the mountains of...

In 2024, the Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (GMACC) continued its efforts to tackle climate challenges worldwide. As a global project of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, GMACC focuses on international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and practical solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. Last Tuesday, we held a virtual briefing session to reflect on 2024, share insights, and discuss priorities for the year ahead. What We Covered 🔹 A look back at key moments and lessons from 2024 🔹 Opportunities to strengthen collaboration and engagement 🔹 Priorities and goals for 2025 Catch Up on the Discussion If you missed the live session, the recording is available here:...

From January 28-31, 2025, in Musov in Southern Moravia, a meeting of more than 80 specialists on nature protection took place to discuss the worldwide status and development of different goose species. Goose are among the most visible and well-known migratory birds. IUCN is the largest international actor in nature conservation efforts. It works mainly through expert and specialist groups. Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea works together with partners in Northeast and Central Asia on issues of the East Asia Australasian and Central Asian flyway of migratory birds. The emergence of the initiative for the Central Asian Flyway opens windows for political and policy cooperation among governments and also NGO in the region. While some species saw – in particular after the reduction of...

The overarching theme of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), “Our Land. Our Future,” underscored the critical importance of sustainable land management and conservation in ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for all. This theme resonated throughout the conference, inspiring leaders and stakeholders to take decisive action to combat desertification and land degradation globally. The UNCCD: A Global Voice for Land The UNCCD, established in 1994, remains the only globally binding treaty dedicated to connecting environmental conservation with sustainable land management for development. Signed by 197 countries and the European Union, the UNCCD champions land stewardship to prevent, reduce, and reverse land degradation, ensuring the ongoing availability of land-based resources vital for...

The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) hosted the virtual masterclass, “Global Perspectives on Circular Economy: Start-ups with Sustainable Business Models in Action,” bringing together circular start-ups and experts from across Asia, Europe, and beyond. The event underscored the vital role of start-ups in advancing circular economy initiatives and fostering innovation for a sustainable future. This webinar is part of the Virtual Masterclass series of the Think Global Sustainability Network under HSF’s Global Project on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (GMACC). Opening the event, Mr. Michael Siegner, Resident Representative of HSF Vietnam outlined how HSF has integrated local, national, regional, and global dimensions into its projects to promote the circular economy, focusing on Vietnam and ASEAN, while engaging in inter-regional dialogues between...

From September 29 to October 4, 2024, the Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam (HSF) led a delegation of 30 representatives from circular start-ups, start-up support organisations and policymakers spanning 12 countries across Asia, North Africa, and Latin America to attend ASEAN Circular Economy Forum (ACEF) 2024 and related events in Bangkok. This initiative is part of the Think Global Sustainability Network’s activities under HSF’s Global Project on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (GMACC).  Think Global Sustainability Network Delegation to ACEF 2024 The first day of the delegation programme began with an in-depth internal workshop on the circular economy in the morning. Delegates from Vietnam, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Bolivia and Germany brought diverse perspectives to discussions on global circular economy practices, offering...

Ecothon - the annual competition for promising sustainable business ideas in ASEAN countries - was co-organised by the ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam (HSF) in Indonesia. This competition marked the conclusion of the Ecothon 2024 series, following the success of events in Lao PDR, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Ecothon (Eco-entrepreneurs’ Marathon) is an innovative business model competition aimed at fostering eco-entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices across the ASEAN region. Employing a ‘hackathon’ format, Ecothon equips start-ups with training, mentoring, and coaching to refine their sustainable business strategies and IR pitching skills. Since its inception in 2019, as part of the Republic of Korea (ROK)-ASEAN Startup Partnership, Ecothon has been organised annually by the Hanns Seidel...