The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) is proud to announce a new collaboration with YG Entertainment, one of the world’s leading K-pop entertainment companies, to promote renewable energy in crisis-affected communities as part of broader peacebuilding efforts.
BLACKPINK, one of the most prominent female music groups globally, will use their world tour to help expand access to clean energy, demonstrating how creativity and innovation can advance sustainability and peace, said the press note of IOM.
As part of this initiative, YG Entertainment will offset the electricity consumption from BLACKPINK’s Seoul and London stops on their upcoming world tour using Peace-Renewable Energy Credits (P-RECs) generated by an IOM-managed solar plant in South Sudan and issued by Energy Peace Partners.
The P-RECs represent a new way to link climate action and humanitarian impact, supporting renewable energy in regions affected by conflict and displacement, it added.
“This collaboration reflects the kind of bold, creative thinking we need to tackle global challenges like displacement and energy inequality,” said SungAh Lee, IOM Deputy Director General for Management and Reform.
“By connecting the power of music with the urgent need for sustainable solutions, we are expanding access to clean energy, supporting education, and strengthening the foundations of peace. This is the kind of forward-looking collaboration that can inspire real change.”
Proceeds from the P-RECs will be reinvested into a community solar system at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology in Bor, South Sudan. The initiative will provide a reliable and sustainable source of green energy. This will enhance the learning environment for thousands of students while fostering social stability and laying the groundwork for lasting peace, the release noted.
“At YG Entertainment, we believe music can be a force for good,” said Min Suk Yang, CEO of YG Entertainment. “Through this partnership, we’re proud to contribute to renewable energy solutions that reach far beyond the concert stage, supporting education, sustainability, and communities affected by crisis.”
This effort goes beyond reducing emissions. In fragile settings such as South Sudan, access to clean and consistent power helps keep classrooms open, strengthens local institutions, and promotes long-term resilience. Dr. John Garang University will benefit from a solar photovoltaic and battery storage system powering essential facilities such as the science laboratory, library, and administrative offices.
The initiative builds on IOM’s broader efforts to use renewable energy as a peacebuilding tool in South Sudan and beyond. P-RECs have already funded new solar systems at public hospitals in Malakal and Bor, providing immediate peace dividends by improving access to essential services while reducing emissions and operational costs, the release reads.
“We welcome this groundbreaking collaboration,” said Dave Mozersky, President of Energy Peace Partners. “We are grateful to IOM and YG Entertainment for their commitment to innovation and sustainability and are pleased that this P-REC transaction will contribute to supporting new electricity access, given the many challenges faced by communities in South Sudan.”
This partnership represents a milestone in the collaboration between the entertainment and humanitarian sectors to advance sustainability and peace. It sets a powerful precedent for how global talent can use their platforms to drive meaningful climate action and support communities in need.
Afghans Return from Iran
In another report, the IOM is raising the alarm over an unprecedented surge in undocumented Afghan migrants returning from Iran, with over 256,000 people arriving in June alone.
This record movement is pushing border resources to the brink, while critical funding gaps hinder the ability of IOM and partners to provide assistance, reaching only 10 per cent of those in need.
“The sheer number of returns from Iran, coming so soon after a spike from Pakistan, is placing immense strain on an already fragile response system,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope adding, Families are arriving with nothing but the clothes on their backs, exhausted and in urgent need of food, medical care and support. The scale of returns is deeply alarming and demands a stronger and more immediate international response. Afghanistan cannot manage this alone.”
On 25 June alone, IOM recorded more than 28,000 people crossing back into Afghanistan in a single day. In total, IOM has recorded 714,572 Afghan migrants who returned from Iran between 1 January and 29 June 2025. Of these, 99 per cent were undocumented and 70 per cent were forcibly returned, the release added.
So far in June, over 23,000 returnees have received critical post-arrival support at IOM-run reception centres located at the Islam Qala and Milak border crossings, as well as at two associated transit facilities in Herat and Nimroz provinces.
After screening, IOM and its partners provide food, temporary shelter, transportation, healthcare, cash assistance, and psychosocial support, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children.
With nearly 900,000 returns from Iran and Pakistan combined this year, local systems are on the verge of collapse, threatening access to essential services for both returnees and host communities. it said.
