Suwon Mayor Yom Tae-young: "Local Government Emergency Response Will Guide Green New Deal Policy Direction"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yom Tae-young stated, "Local governments' 'emergency response to climate crisis' will present the government's 'Green New Deal' policy direction and serve as a driving force for creating substantive policies in local communities."

Mayor Yom served as keynote speaker and representative chairman of the National Association of Mayors, Governors, and County Chiefs at the 'Republic of Korea Basic Local Government Climate Crisis Emergency Declaration Proclamation Ceremony' held on the 5th in the main conference room of the National Assembly Members Building in Seoul.

Mayor Yom predicted, "The government has set the 'Green New Deal' as an important task for the post-coronavirus era, and local governments' climate change response policies will be able to present the direction of the Green New Deal."

He continued, "We are at a crossroads entering the post-coronavirus era," and added, "In the process of recovering the economy devastated by COVID-19, it is our responsibility to choose whether to return to a 'fossil fuel economy' or move toward a 'green revolution.'"

Furthermore, he stated, "Eco-friendly automobile industries such as hydrogen cars and electric vehicles will create local jobs, and energy transition industries such as renewable energy will be able to revitalize the local economy," and emphasized, "We must coexist with nature to create livelihoods for cities, and local governments and the nation must together cultivate climate change response policies."

The 'Basic Local Government Climate Crisis Declaration Proclamation Ceremony' held today, hosted and organized by 11 organizations including the National Association of Mayors, Governors, and County Chiefs, the Local Governments for Sustainable Development Council, the Local Governments for Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition Council, and ICLEI Korea Office, proceeded with congratulatory remarks from Environment Minister Jo Myung-rae, Mayor Yom Tae-young's keynote address, and the proclamation of the 'Climate Crisis Emergency Declaration.'

Participants announced the 'Republic of Korea Basic Local Government Climate Emergency Declaration' with 219 out of 225 basic local governments across the nation participating and declared, "We are now in a climate crisis emergency situation."

They further emphasized, "A centralized, national-centered energy system cannot respond to the climate crisis," and stressed, "We must transition the existing energy system and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all aspects of energy consumption."

Basic local governments participating in the emergency declaration declared they will implement: ▲Setting greenhouse gas reduction targets to limit global average temperature increases to 1.5 degrees ▲Requesting that the government and National Assembly declare the climate crisis emergency situation and declare the nation's 2050 carbon neutrality ▲Expanding renewable energy and establishing energy independence plans to implement them step by step in response to the climate crisis ▲Establishing institutional promotion systems to overcome sustainability crises together with citizens and promoting them responsibly.