Mayor Yeom Tae-young Reelected as Chair of Basic Governments in 'Carbon Neutral Local Government Practice Alliance' for Second Term

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young was reelected as the second-term representative chair of basic local governments at the 'Carbon Neutral Local Government Practice Alliance 2021 Regular General Meeting of Basic Local Governments' held in a non-face-to-face format on the 18th.

The Carbon Neutral Local Government Practice Alliance was launched in July of last year to establish and share greenhouse gas reduction plans aimed at achieving 'net-zero carbon dioxide emissions' in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Mayor Yeom Tae-young has served as the inaugural representative chair of basic local governments.

At the time of its launch, 63 basic local governments, including Suwon City, participated, and the number grew to 202 within one year and four months. A total of 219 local governments, including 17 metropolitan local governments, are participating in the carbon neutral practice alliance.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young said at the regular meeting on that day, "Local governments closest to citizens must take the lead in substantive climate action," and "We must create innovative climate policies with citizens at the local level and put them into practice."

At the regular meeting on that day, the Carbon Neutral Local Government Practice Alliance discussed several agenda items including ▲election of the second-term chair of basic governments ▲amendment of the practice alliance operating regulations ▲enactment of operational rules for basic municipalities in the practice alliance ▲election of regional chairs and reorganization of the expanded practical representative group ▲appointment of basic vice-chairs of basic local governments.

'Carbon neutrality' means increasing carbon dioxide absorption by the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated in a region, thereby bringing the net carbon dioxide emissions to 'zero.' It means putting the total amount of carbon dioxide into a neutral state.

According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) '1.5°C Special Report,' achieving 'global carbon neutrality' by 2050 can limit the rise in global temperature to within 1.5°C by 2100.