The Elders stress intergenerational collaboration in addressing global challenges

Former United Nations Secretary-General and Elders Deputy Chair Ban Ki-moon, right, speaks with The Elders Chair Mary Robinson, center, and The Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin during a discussion on global challenges during The Elders' visit to Korea at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Robinson, Ban call for collective action towards AI regulation

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The Elders, an advisory group of 11 global leaders, underscored the critical role of intergenerational dialogue and collaboration in addressing existential threats facing humanity, such as climate change and the unregulated advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) during their visit to Korea.

Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders and former president of Ireland, and Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations secretary-general, sat down with Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Wednesday, to wrap up their visit to Korea, encompassing their biannual board meeting as well as a series of discussions with Korean authorities including with President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Elders are advocating exchanges and connections between generations on global issues, including climate change, gender-related matters and AI. They are encouraging more engagement by young people, acknowledging that they often have more knowledge about emerging technologies like AI.

"The Elders very much believe in intergenerational exchange and linking. When I was young, I loved my grandfather, who was a retired lawyer, when he talked about justice. And he talked to me and asked me, but he didn't expect me to say anything. I was to listen. Now, it's different. Even 13, 14-year-olds are talking expertly about the climate issue, because they read the science, they're connected digitally and they have ideas," Robinson said.

"We want to expand our experience in intergenerational discussions and learning on both sides in the climate crisis and other existential threats."

Mary Robinson, left, chair of The Elders and former president of Ireland, alongside Ban Ki-moon, former U.N. secretary-general, speaks during a discussion with Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, unseen in the photo, at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

In their new strategic plan, The Elders have identified three existential threats, with the climate crisis and environmental degradation being the most pressing.

"That's why the United Nations has been speaking out and targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. We have to achieve zero carbon emission. Is it possible? It may not be possible because of all this lack of political will (as) you have to change the whole industrial system," Ban said.

"Encouragingly, more than 150 countries have pledged that they will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and the Korean government is one of them. I've been trying to get Asia to achieve net zero 2050, but it is a very daunting challenge at this time, because China has declared (to achieve net zero) by 2060 and what is more problematic is that India has announced carbon neutrality by 2070. Therefore, there's a long way to go for us. Then, at least we have to make as many as countries as possible join this carbon neutrality parade," he added.

Ban emphasized that the critical driving force in addressing climate change should be the political will of global leaders, illustrating this by pointing out that OECD countries, despite pledging to provide $100 billion (132 trillion won) to developing countries to tackle climate change, have not fully met their commitments even after 14 years.

"This is not an issue of political ideology or system. All the countries join their hands (in working collectively toward the common goal of climate change)," Ban added.

Robinson and Ban also noted that that the emerging prevalence of AI could potentially aggravate this crisis due to its potential to amplify negative aspects such as misinformation and threats to democracy.

"(Climate change) is now going to be really seriously worsened by artificial intelligence unless we get it under control, because it is going to supercharge all the negative issues on social media, dark sides, misinformation, undermining democracy and elections. And all of this undermines our capacity of the world to address a very, very serious crisis," Robinson said.

Robinson highlighted the importance of a complete paradigm shift and adoption of a crisis-oriented mentality to effectively address global issues.

"We need a total turnaround and a real 'crisis mentality,' which is what The Elders are emphasizing. It would have been difficult before the kind of explosive, exponential focus now on AI. It is everywhere and there are opportunities from AI, undoubtedly, especially for developing countries," she said.

"But there are very, very big risks and it is interesting that the CEOs of major companies that know the technology are warning of how scared they are, of what they don't fully understand. So this is going to make it even more difficult to cope with an existential threat, which we should be giving priority attention to," Robinson added.

Members of the global leaders' advisory group, The Elders, from left, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, former president of Mongolia, Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon and Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia, attend a media briefing at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

While recognizing the significant potential benefits of AI, The Elders also warn of considerable risks and emphasize the need for a balanced, globally inclusive approach. After their board meeting in Seoul, they released a statement urging collaboration in developing a strong international governance structure on AI to share the benefits, while mitigating the risks associated with its use.

"AI could fundamentally alter how human society is organized, national politics are conducted and international issues are managed. World leaders have a responsibility to ensure that AI is used in ways that are safe, transparent and accountable. These are not just technological or commercial issues, but political and moral imperatives affecting everyone," Robinson said in the statement.

They suggested the creation of a new agency, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which could help regulate AI.

"It's kind of a good model, because the way which it was worked out that countries would not seek nuclear energy, because they would get civil energy. So equally, countries that are affected, but are not responsible for AI should be able to benefit by having more fair digital access and bridge the digital divide. There are great opportunities (from AI), but we want to emphasize that there are also enormous risks," Robinson added.

The Elders, established by Nelson Mandela in 2007, is an independent group of former world leaders advocating key global challenges, such as peace, human rights and sustainability.

Current members of The Elders include Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian prime minister, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, ex-president of Mongolia, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, former UN high commissioner for human rights, Hina Jilani, a leading activist in Pakistan's women's movement, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, first female president of Liberia, Ricardo Lagos, former president of Chile, Graca Machel, a Mozambican politician, Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia and Ernesto Ledillo, former president of Mexico, in addition to Robinson and Ban.