Lee Jae-jun: "Local Governments Playing Last Golden Window to Restructure 'Climate Governance'"

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "The only way to fully overcome the climate crisis is through the solidarity and participation of all citizens."

In his opening remarks at the "2030 Local Promises, Implementation – Joint Climate Action Resolution for Regional Transition" held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Conference Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 2nd, Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Local governments stand at the frontlines leading the solidarity and participation of citizens," and emphasized that "the 9th elected government is the last golden window for local governments to restructure into 'climate governance.'"

Mayor Lee, who chairs the Local Government Council for Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition, said, "We will have local governments establish ambitious targets and implementation strategies on their own, such as expanding renewable energy, transitioning to zero-emission transportation, and reducing waste emissions," and added, "To move toward a carbon-neutral electricity nation, the central and local governments must become a unified team."

The joint resolution ceremony, co-hosted by the Presidential Committee on Climate Crisis Response, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Regional Energy and Climate Action Partnership Leap (a nonprofit organization in the energy sector), the Local Government Council for Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition, and the Local Government Council for Sustainable Development, was attended by Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Seong-hwan, Private Co-Chair Lee Chang-hoon of the Presidential Committee on Climate Crisis Response, Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, and other local government leaders.

The event, which began with Mayor Lee's opening remarks, proceeded with a keynote speech by Lee Chang-hoon, Chair of the Presidential Committee on Climate Crisis Response, on the theme of "The Role of Local Governments in the 9th Elected Government in Achieving National 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets (NDC)," a presentation by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment on "Key Central Government Policies for Regional Transition," a keynote speech by Park Jung-yeon, CEO of Leap, on the significance of the local government climate action resolution ceremony, and announcements of joint climate action resolutions by local government leaders.

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun pledged △constructing 50 Suwon-style solar power plants with citizens as the main stakeholders, △converting 100% of buses to zero-emission vehicles for seamless transit transfers, △operating 1,000 citizens' pocket gardens with residents, and △expanding environmental education for Suwon citizens by more than 30% across generations, and vowed, "We will overcome the climate crisis with the power of action."

Meanwhile, the Local Government Council for Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition held a general assembly chaired by Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun in a conference room of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry prior to the resolution ceremony.

Founded in December 2016, the Local Government Council for Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition aims to promote energy decentralization and energy transition suited to regional circumstances through exchanges and cooperation among local governments. It currently has 33 member cities.