Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "Success Model of Local Government Energy Policy Should Be Expanded as National Policy"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kang Han-seo] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young proposed on the 27th that "we realize energy decentralization, develop successful energy policy models of local governments, and expand them as national policies."

Mayor Yeom made the remarks in his opening address at the '2nd National Forum on Regional Energy Transition' held at Seo Ui-pil Hall at Hannam University in Daejeon, saying "the central government, metropolitan local governments, and local governments should establish an energy policy network and consultative body," and predicted that "regional energy centers will be of great help in establishing an 'energy governance' system."

He continued, "We must make ending fossil fuel and nuclear power generation energy a task of our era," and stated that "regional energy centers will play a major role in achieving the government's goal of expanding the proportion of renewable energy generation to 20 percent by 2030."

The forum, jointly hosted by the Local Government Council for Energy Policy Transition (Chairman Mayor Yeom Tae-young), the Korea Energy Agency, the National Network for Regional Energy Transition, and the office of Rep. Kim Sung-hwan (Democratic Party), sought ways for the government, local governments, and civil society to establish an energy governance system.

The forum, held under the theme 'Energy Transition, Cooperation from the Regions,' proceeded with Mayor Yeom Tae-young's opening remarks, keynote speeches on 'Fine Dust Response and Energy Transition' (An Byeong-ok, Operating Committee Chair of the National Climate Deliberation), 'Energy Decentralization and Regional Challenges' (Rep. Kim Sung-hwan), followed by topic presentations and discussions.

Meanwhile, Mayor Yeom Tae-young was elected chairman at the launching ceremony of the second term of the 'Local Government Council for Energy Policy Transition' held in January. The Local Government Council for Energy Policy Transition, founded in December 2016, aims to transfer the establishment and implementation of energy policy from the national to the local level through exchange and cooperation between local governments.