Suwon Advances as a Global Environmental City

Suwon City is stepping up efforts to promote itself as the 'Environmental Capital of Suwon' to the world.

From the 15th to the 22nd, the city will participate in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) World Congress and the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit (Rio+20), both being held in Brazil, focusing on announcing plans and implementation progress toward making Suwon the 'Environmental Capital.'

During this period, Mayor Yeom Tae-young will attend a high-level panel session, the opening plenary of the ICLEI World Congress, at 9 a.m. local time on the 15th and deliver a keynote presentation on the topic 'Experience and Lessons from Local Agenda 21 in Korea.' Subsequently, Vice Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon City will present the plans and implementation achievements of 'People-Centered Environmental Capital Suwon' from 2 p.m. that day.

On the 16th morning, Mayor Yeom will introduce the 'EcoMobility Demonstration Project,' and in the afternoon, he will host the 'Korea Local Government Forum for Sustainable Development' organized by Suwon City.

Suwon City has established a foundation for enhancing local sustainability by adopting and applying internationally verified ICLEI regional sustainability management programs and policy tools such as Climate Protection Cities (ICLEI-CCP), ecological footprint, green purchasing, ecomobility, and eco-efficiency.

In June last year, Mayor Yeom attended the '2nd World Congress on Cities and Adaptation to Climate Change' held as part of the '2011 Resilient Cities Congress' in Bonn, Germany, as an official invitee.

At this event, Mayor Yeom pledged to participate in the 'Urban Climate Registry,' a global commitment program among cities to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and received a certificate from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

Additionally, in October last year, Suwon City's integrated water management policy was officially approved as a participating municipality in the International Water Protection Campaign (ICLEI Water Campaign) promoted by ICLEI.

Furthermore, Suwon City will implement the 'EcoMobility Demonstration Project (EcoMobility Festival 2013 Suwon)' in partnership with international organizations such as ICLEI and UN-HABITAT, to be carried out for one month next year in the Haenggungdong area of Suwon City.

This project is a global initiative that is the world's first to assume an age of oil depletion and recreate the actual appearance of a future city using non-motorized, zero-carbon eco-friendly transportation methods such as bicycles, observing the adaptation process while researching ecomobility solutions.

Mayor Yeom stated, "Through case presentations at the ICLEI World Congress and other events, we will create an opportunity to elevate Suwon City's status as an aspiring Environmental Capital in the international community while strengthening exchanges and cooperation with international organizations and global environmental cities."