Suwon's Last Year Greenhouse Gas Emissions Expected to Decrease by 40,000 Tons

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 20th that last year's greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be approximately 40,000 tons lower than anticipated.

As a result of Suwon City's preliminary calculation of last year's greenhouse gas emissions, total emissions were estimated at approximately 257,000 tons, which is about 40,000 tons less than the anticipated emissions (296,950 tons). In particular, emissions in the second half (July-December) were approximately 116,600 tons, representing approximately a 17% decrease compared to the first half (approximately 140,600 tons). Accurate calculation results will be announced at the end of May.

By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the city expects to reduce costs for purchasing 'greenhouse gas emission permits.' The city had anticipated that greenhouse gas emission permit purchasing costs would require 2.5 to 3 billion won during the 'second planning period of the greenhouse gas emission permit trading system (2018-2020).' However, by applying the emission permit trading price (39,400 won per ton) to the reduction of approximately 40,000 tons, it is expected that costs can be saved by approximately 1.5 billion won.

The greenhouse gas emission permit trading system has been in operation since January 2015. It is a system in which the government sets the permitted amount of greenhouse gas that local governments, companies, and others can emit over a three-year period, and requires them to emit greenhouse gas within that limit.

Greenhouse gas emission permits can be bought and sold like stocks. According to the trading system, local governments must pay costs when additionally purchasing emission permits.

The city has nine waste treatment facilities subject to the emission permit trading system, including a public sewage treatment plant, a waste-to-energy facility, food waste feed and composting facilities, a resource circulation center, a sanitary landfill, Gwanggyo and Pajang water purification plants, and the Seoho Ecological Water Resources Center.

On the 18th, the city held a 'quarterly performance review meeting on greenhouse gas emission permit trading system' at the office of the Vice Mayor in City Hall.

Vice Mayor Cho Mu-young stated, "Efforts to reduce the generation of household waste and sewage in daily life will be effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," and urged, "Make your best efforts, including actively promoting separate disposal of waste in areas where waste separation is weak."