Gwangmyeong Recognized as "Outstanding Local Government" in Climate Disaster Response, Receives Ministry Prize

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Gwangmyeong City's systematic response to climate disasters in protecting citizen safety, even amid record-breaking heat waves, has been recognized nationwide.

The city announced on the 15th that it received the Ministry of Interior and Safety Commendation Prize in the heat wave category at the '2025 Climate Disaster Response Outstanding Local Government Evaluation' held by the Ministry of Interior and Safety. With this award, the city will receive 50 million won in special transfer taxes.

The 'Climate Disaster Response Outstanding Local Government Evaluation' is a system that assesses local government response systems by natural disaster category—including heat waves, cold waves, and droughts—targeting all local governments nationwide and selects outstanding local governments. Final selections are made through first-round document screening and second-round presentation evaluation based on criteria including policy effectiveness, level of advance preparation, citizen participation, and disaster management achievements.

The city was recognized as an outstanding local government for establishing high-execution field-level heat wave response policies and citizen participation-based models.

This year, the city strengthened experiential heat wave response in daily life by installing fine mist sprayers (cooling fog) to lower urban temperatures and fully operating the 'conscience umbrella rental program,' which allows anyone to freely borrow and return umbrellas during hot weather.

The city also expanded customized protection systems for vulnerable populations to heat waves such as the elderly and people with disabilities. The number of elderly care targets was increased to approximately 1,200, and care workers checked their health status through home visits and phone check-ins. A total of 729 disabled activity support workers provided heat wave response services to 853 homebound individuals, focusing on preventing heat-related illnesses.

The city operated heat relief shelters at senior centers and welfare facilities so that all citizens could escape the heat.

Particularly notable was the expansion model combining the city's representative citizen climate action network, '1.5°C Climate Conscripts,' with heat wave response measures.

The city built a circular climate action model in which citizens who donate unused umbrellas receive compensation in local currency, and citizens in need can borrow and use them again, receiving recognition for excellence in realizing a sustainable citizen-centered heat wave response structure.

The city plans to implement this model starting in 2026.

Mayor Park Seung-won stated, "Response to climate disasters is an important human rights issue that must protect the lives and safety of all citizens," and added, "Going forward, we will further strengthen our capacity to respond to the climate crisis from the perspective of protecting each citizen's rights, and build a sustainable city where everyone can live safely."