Young people from around the world participating in the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul will engage in ecological practices by planting trees in their own countries and regions.
The main event of the 2027 World Youth Day will take place in Seoul from August 3 to 8. Prior to the main event, diocesan gatherings will be held in 15 dioceses across the country from July 29 to August 2, excluding Seoul.
International pilgrims will experience the faith and culture of the Korean Church and interact with local youth before moving to Seoul to participate in the main event with the Pope.
The organizing committee for the 2027 World Youth Day announced on August 11 that it officially launched the 'Onsum Campaign - Global Tree Planting Movement' on August 3. The initiative encourages participants to respond to the carbon emissions generated during their long-distance travel with ecological actions in their respective locations.
This movement is based on the spirit of 'care for our common home' emphasized in Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si'. It aims not only to plant trees in specific locations in Seoul but also to involve youth and Catholic communities worldwide in planting trees suitable for their local ecological environments.
Participation is simple. Individuals or communities can plant trees in their local areas and then upload photos of the trees, species, planting locations, dates, and personal reflections to the online collaboration platform Padlet. There are no restrictions on the number of participants, allowing youth, pilgrims, diocesan and parish communities, and environmental organizations to join.
Participation records will be displayed on an online 'Global Tree Planting Status Map'. This map will accumulate records of participation and planting by country, and will also include domestic tree planting activities taking place at the Sky Park in Seoul's World Cup Park. The goal is to connect planting records from around the world on a single map to demonstrate ecological solidarity among participants.
To expand international participation, the organizing committee will collaborate with the 'Laudato Si' Movement, a Catholic environmental network. LSM will disseminate posters, participation guides, and information on tree planting and certification methods to dioceses, parishes, and youth organizations through its international network.
The 'Laudato Si' Movement was launched in January 2015 during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. Initially named the 'Global Catholic Climate Movement', it was renamed in 2021. The movement aims to foster solidarity among the global Catholic community in responding to the climate crisis and ecological issues.
The global tree planting initiative also signifies the international expansion of the Onsum Campaign, which began in Seoul. Since April 2025, the organizing committee has been planting trees at the Sky Park in collaboration with the Korea Forest Service and the Seoul Metropolitan Government every spring and fall. The goal is to plant approximately 300 trees per session, totaling 1,800 trees by 2027.
This global campaign will continue until August 2, 2027. The organizing committee plans to tally the number of participating countries, participation instances, and cumulative planting totals during this period, continuously reflecting domestic and international activities on the online map.
However, to evaluate tree planting as a direct 'offset' for carbon emissions generated from long-distance air travel, a detailed assessment of the species planted, survival rates, growth periods, post-planting care, and the total greenhouse gas emissions from participant travel is necessary.
Thus, the significance of this movement lies not in erasing immediate carbon emissions but in raising awareness among participants about their responsibility for the climate crisis and initiating ecological practices that continue beyond the event.
The organizing committee expects that the trees planted around the world and the participation records of youth will become an 'ecological legacy' that endures even after the event concludes. The pilgrimage to Seoul begins not when participants board a plane, but when they plant a tree in their own hometowns.
The main event of the 2027 World Youth Day will take place in Seoul from August 3 to 8. Prior to the main event, diocesan gatherings will be held in 15 dioceses across the country from July 29 to August 2, excluding Seoul.
International pilgrims will experience the faith and culture of the Korean Church and interact with local youth before moving to Seoul to participate in the main event with the Pope.
The organizing committee for the 2027 World Youth Day announced on August 11 that it officially launched the 'Onsum Campaign - Global Tree Planting Movement' on August 3. The initiative encourages participants to respond to the carbon emissions generated during their long-distance travel with ecological actions in their respective locations.
This movement is based on the spirit of 'care for our common home' emphasized in Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si'. It aims not only to plant trees in specific locations in Seoul but also to involve youth and Catholic communities worldwide in planting trees suitable for their local ecological environments.
Participation is simple. Individuals or communities can plant trees in their local areas and then upload photos of the trees, species, planting locations, dates, and personal reflections to the online collaboration platform Padlet. There are no restrictions on the number of participants, allowing youth, pilgrims, diocesan and parish communities, and environmental organizations to join.
Participation records will be displayed on an online 'Global Tree Planting Status Map'. This map will accumulate records of participation and planting by country, and will also include domestic tree planting activities taking place at the Sky Park in Seoul's World Cup Park. The goal is to connect planting records from around the world on a single map to demonstrate ecological solidarity among participants.
To expand international participation, the organizing committee will collaborate with the 'Laudato Si' Movement, a Catholic environmental network. LSM will disseminate posters, participation guides, and information on tree planting and certification methods to dioceses, parishes, and youth organizations through its international network.
The 'Laudato Si' Movement was launched in January 2015 during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. Initially named the 'Global Catholic Climate Movement', it was renamed in 2021. The movement aims to foster solidarity among the global Catholic community in responding to the climate crisis and ecological issues.
The global tree planting initiative also signifies the international expansion of the Onsum Campaign, which began in Seoul. Since April 2025, the organizing committee has been planting trees at the Sky Park in collaboration with the Korea Forest Service and the Seoul Metropolitan Government every spring and fall. The goal is to plant approximately 300 trees per session, totaling 1,800 trees by 2027.
This global campaign will continue until August 2, 2027. The organizing committee plans to tally the number of participating countries, participation instances, and cumulative planting totals during this period, continuously reflecting domestic and international activities on the online map.
However, to evaluate tree planting as a direct 'offset' for carbon emissions generated from long-distance air travel, a detailed assessment of the species planted, survival rates, growth periods, post-planting care, and the total greenhouse gas emissions from participant travel is necessary.
Thus, the significance of this movement lies not in erasing immediate carbon emissions but in raising awareness among participants about their responsibility for the climate crisis and initiating ecological practices that continue beyond the event.
The organizing committee expects that the trees planted around the world and the participation records of youth will become an 'ecological legacy' that endures even after the event concludes. The pilgrimage to Seoul begins not when participants board a plane, but when they plant a tree in their own hometowns.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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