Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, "Expand Local Government Participation in National Policy Development to Strengthen National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Implementation"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon Special City and Chair of the Local Government Council on Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition, proposed: "Let us expand the participation of local governments in establishing national policies to strengthen the implementation of national greenhouse gas reduction."

Attending the 'Policy Forum for Climate Crisis Response through National-Local Cooperation' held by the Local Government Council on Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition on the 24th at the Kensington Hotel Yeouido in Seoul, Mayor Lee said, "If local government opinions are not sufficiently reflected when establishing national plans, the feasibility and practicality will inevitably decline during implementation," and proposed, "Let us include local governments as members of the Presidential Committee on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth 2050."

The Presidential Committee on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth 2050 is a public-private joint deliberative body that deliberates major policies and plans for national carbon neutrality implementation and examines and evaluates their implementation based on communication with all sectors of society.

He also proposed hosting a 'Carbon Neutrality Policy Expo' to share and disseminate excellent carbon neutrality policies by region.

Mayor Lee stated: "Suwon City developed the 'Our Home Carbon Monitoring' project to enable citizens to practice carbon neutrality in their daily lives, and achieved the outcome of voluntary participation by 92,000 households in apartment complexes in Suwon City. However, excellent policies of local governments like Our Home Carbon Monitoring are pursued individually, which limits nationwide dissemination," he pointed out.

He continued, "Let us hold a Carbon Neutrality Policy Expo where regional customized carbon neutrality policies of local governments nationwide are shared. With national-level recognition and support, success cases will spread rapidly nationwide," he predicted.

The policy forum proceeded with an opening ceremony and discussion. The opening ceremony featured opening remarks by Rep. Wi Seong-gon, Chair of the National Assembly Special Committee on Climate Crisis, welcoming remarks by Mayor Lee Jae-jun of the Local Government Council on Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition, video congratulatory remarks from National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, and delivery of the Korea Local Government Joint Declaration.

The forum was attended by Rep. Wi Seong-gon, Chair of the National Assembly Special Committee on Climate Crisis, officials from local governments belonging to the Local Government Council on Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition, Yun Sun-jin, Dean of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University, and Kim Jeong-in, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Chung-Ang University.

Mayor Lee said in his welcoming remarks: "This is when the nation and local governments must move in step toward the transition to a carbon-neutral society. I hope this forum becomes a starting point for expanding cooperation between the nation and local governments and serves as the driving force for 'locally-led climate crisis great transformation.'"

Mayor Lee Jae-jun delivered the 'Vision 2035! Climate Crisis Great Transformation, Korea Local Government Joint Declaration' to Rep. Wi Seong-gon, Chair of the National Assembly Special Committee on Climate Crisis.

In the joint declaration, the Local Government Council on Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition declared: "We will lead the climate great transformation that begins in local regions with citizens and advance boldly toward a more just and sustainable future."

The council committed to implementing five principles: △Climate policy is at a critical juncture, we act now △We establish and implement regionally customized transition strategies △We begin just transition in local regions △We realize climate welfare and inclusive governance △We strengthen climate decentralization and international solidarity.

The forum proceeded with keynote remarks by Emeritus Professor Kim Jeong-in of Chung-Ang University on the theme of 'National Tasks for Climate Crisis Response and the Role of Local Governments,' followed by policy discussions.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun and other local government officials, along with Rep. Wi Seong-gon, Chair of the National Assembly Special Committee on Climate Crisis, participated as panelists to share policy proposals from local governments in the climate and energy sectors and discuss cooperation methods between the national government and local governments for climate crisis response.

A city official said, "All members of the national community must participate in overcoming the climate crisis," and "By establishing an institutional framework where the central government and the National Assembly provide support and local governments implement, we can realize locally-led climate crisis great transformation."

The official added, "We will continue to operate cooperation channels between the nation and local governments to strengthen the implementation of local-based climate crisis response, and local governments will take the lead in Korea's leap to become a climate-advanced nation."