Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim took time to directly communicate with residents of Gwangmyeong City on the subject of climate response and expressed his determination to take the lead in responding to climate change, saying, “I will become the Climate Governor of Gyeonggi Province.”

On March 28, Governor Kim held a ‘climate response talk’ at the Jagyeong Reservoir in Saebit Park, Gwangmyeong City, and discussed the direction and practice of climate crisis responses and carbon neutrality policies with Gwangmyeong residents.

Governor Kim said, “We will become the local government that takes the lead in addressing climate change. The first thing the Gyeonggi Province Red Team suggested was the elimination of disposable cups from provincial government cafes. Since January, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government has transitioned from disposable cups to multi-use cups, and from April, employees who eat outside will not bring disposable cups back into the office. The next step is considering the elimination of plastic containers used to deliver meals.”

Governor Kim added, “I regard digital transformation, climate change, and the population crisis as the three major challenges threatening humanity… I am thinking of becoming the ‘Climate Governor of Gyeonggi Province.’ Together, Gwangmyeong City and Gyeonggi Province will strive to become the vanguard in responding to climate change in Korea.”

About 300 people attended this informal talk session, including Gwangmyeong City’s 1.5°C Climate Righteous Army members, local residents, elementary, middle and high school students, civic groups, Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won, Gwangmyeong City Council Chairman Ahn Seong-hwan, and National Assembly Members Lim Oh-gyeong and Yang Ki-dae, as well as Provincial Assembly Members Choi Min, Kim Yong-seong, and Jo Hee-seon. Approximately 1,000 residents of Gwangmyeong City are active in the 1.5°C Climate Righteous Army, practicing climate action in their daily lives so as to prevent a global temperature increase exceeding 1.5°C.

After Julian, a broadcaster who is active as a goodwill ambassador for climate action in the European Union, gave a keynote speech on ‘Why we must achieve carbon neutrality,’ Governor Kim and attendees shared their opinions on Gyeonggi Province’s carbon neutral policy promotion strategy and tasks through a communicative talk session.

One Gwangmyeong resident said, “Please let us know if Gyeonggi Province has a policy to support residents in detail in relation to the environment. If not, please indicate if you can support such a policy.”

Governor Kim said, “I believe that the response to environmental conservation issues and climate change is something that requires a change in the mindsets and behavior of the public, Gyeonggi residents, and all people, so I will actively pursue ways in which to promote this broadly. Gwangmyeong City is leading the way in carrying out many good projects, so I hope that we can work together to change Gyeonggi Province and Korea.”

A 6th grade student at Anhyeon Elementary School in Gwangmyeong City, who is working as an ‘opportunity reporter’ in Gyeonggi Province, asked, “What kind of practices do you personally, the governor, follow to protect the environment?” Governor Kim replied, “In the past, I created a non-profit organization to conduct a ‘plogging’ (picking up trash while jogging) campaign, to pick up trash while walking on Mt. Gwanggyosan, and to use tumblers and mugs… In terms of policy, the Environment Bureau has been reorganized into the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau, and RE100 is being pursued. First, the provincial government and public institutions will implement RE100, and we will work hard to encourage the private sector and public to participate.”

A young man who introduced himself as the vice president of the Future Management Youth Network said, “Young people are now very worried because the climate crisis is a matter of life and death. Is there any support available to enable greater participation by young people in environmental policy activities?”

Governor Kim answered, “There is a youth advisory group with 200 young people in Gyeonggi Province. In addition, through this year’s youth opportunity package project, approximately 500 people will be selected and the ‘Youth Gap Year’ will be initiated to provide them with opportunities to pursue their desired interests and activities. If there is a desire among young people to engage in climate change or environmental activities, you can apply for this project.”

In addition, various opinions were offered, such as hopes that environmental campaigns in which the public can participate will be initiated at the provincial level, requests for budget support to enable the creation of a road forest, queries about policies to vitalize the hydrogen economy, and suggestions to add carbon neutrality to local kindergarten and elementary school curricula throughout Gyeonggi Province.

Along with the ‘hand-in-hand’ talk, a carbon-neutral tree planting event also took place with Gwangmyeong City’s 1.5°C Climate Righteous Army ahead of the 78th Arbor Day at Saebit Park. The Gyeonggi Garden Culture Fair is scheduled to be held in this park in October, and city parks with poor tree growth will be modified to create healthy urban forests.

In a commemorative event, participants planted a successor tree to the ginkgo tree at Yongmunsa Temple in Yangpyeong County and attached a name tag to the tree. In addition, flowers were planted with the participation of 7-year-old children at Gwangmyeong Municipal Bitgaon Kindergarten, a carbon-neutral school. Approximately 2,600 seedlings, including camellias (which can be easily grown indoors), were also distributed to attendees so as to raise awareness about the importance of forests and to foster the ‘have your own tree’ spirit.

Gyeonggi Province envisions the creation of new opportunities through the promotion of carbon-neutral policies for the coexistence of residents and the private sector; it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition, while the Korean central government lowered its target for new and renewable energy generation from 30% to 21% in 2030, Gyeonggi Province is still promoting a target of 30%. Governor Kim also announced that he would achieve 100% of public institution RE100 within his term.

The ‘hand-in-hand’ talks started as one of the implementation plans for joint province/city/county town hall events as agreed at a meeting between Governor Kim and the head of cities/counties last year. It has since expanded into a venue for discussions and suggestions on major policies and regional issues in Gyeonggi Province. Gwangmyeong City has the lowest urban forest area per capita in the province, but it has won 11 awards, including a commendation from the Minister of Environment, in climate and energy categories over the past three years. For this reason, Gyeonggi Province held this talk session in Gwangmyeong on responses to the climate crisis. The 7th ‘hand-in-hand’ talk is scheduled to be take place in Gapyeong County in April.

Gyeonggi Governor Dong Yeon Kim, Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won, National Assembly Members Yang Ki-dae and Lim Oh-gyeong, Gyeonggi Assembly Members Kim Yong-seong and Choi Min, and Gyeonggi residents pose for commemorative photos.