Suwon to Showcase 'Environmental Capital' at Asia-Pacific Environment Ministers Forum in September

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City has presented a blueprint to clearly demonstrate its credentials as an environmental capital ahead of the 'Fourth Asia-Pacific Environment Ministers Forum' to be held on September 8.

On the 11th, the city held the '2020 Fourth Asia-Pacific Environment Ministers Forum Implementation Plan Report Meeting' at Suwon Convention Center with key stakeholders including Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young, Vice Mayor Cho Moo-young, experts, and department heads in attendance, and shared implementation plans.

First, regarding transportation for forum participants traveling between accommodation and venues, the city plans to deploy electric vehicles to enable the use of eco-friendly transportation.

Some 70 electric vehicles currently in use as public vehicles will be allocated to support the forum, with detailed plans (operating hours, dispatch intervals, etc.) to be established through a demand survey.

Single-use products will be banned at Suwon Convention Center and surrounding hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops to showcase a differentiated approach, and the city will seek public cooperation in not using single-use items such as cups, straws, napkins, and plastic bags.

Additionally, from September 11-12 in the행궁동 area, the city plans to commemorate the seventh anniversary of 'Eco-Mobility Suwon 2013' by hosting an eco-mobility expo and car-free street events, providing opportunities to view and experience eco-friendly transportation.

The city will also independently implement a voluntary 'carbon-neutral program' (a concept of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero) for low-carbon event operations, raising its status as an environmental city.

Greenhouse gas emissions generated during the forum proceedings will be estimated in advance, and plans to reduce them will be established and implemented from May to September.

The city is also preparing side events to promote Suwon as a water-cycling city. These include the 'Second Suwon International Water Environment and Sanitation Expo (September 8-10)' and the 'Second Suwon International Water Treatment Technology Symposium (September 10-11)'.

The Asia-Pacific Environment Ministers Forum, to be held at Suwon Convention Center from September 8-11, is a regional preparatory meeting for the UN Environment Assembly hosted by the UN Environment Programme. The forum is expected to bring together some 700 representatives from 41 Asia-Pacific governments, international organizations, and private groups to discuss environmental issues including climate change, biodiversity, and chemical management.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young said, "The forum will serve as a stepping stone in creating a new global climate system that the world is watching," and urged, "Please do your best in preparing for the forum so that we can share and promote Suwon's exemplary environmental policies to the world."