Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "Local Government Emergency Response Points Direction for Green New Deal Policy"

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young said that "local governments' 'emergency response to climate crisis' will point the direction for the government's 'Green New Deal' policy and serve as a driving force for creating field-oriented policies in local communities."

Mayor Yeom, as the representative chair of the National Association of Mayors, Governors, and District Heads, delivered the keynote speech at the "Declaration Ceremony for Climate Crisis Emergency Response of Basic Local Governments in the Republic of Korea" held in the grand conference room of the National Assembly Members' Hall in Seoul on the 5th.

Mayor Yeom foresaw that "the government has set 'Green New Deal' as a key task for the post-COVID era, and local governments' climate change response policies will be able to point the direction for the Green New Deal."

He continued, "We are at a crossroads heading into the post-COVID era," and stated, "In the process of recovering the economy that has stagnated due to COVID-19, it is our responsibility to choose whether to return to a 'fossil fuel economy' or move toward a 'green revolution'."

He further emphasized, "Eco-friendly automobile industries such as hydrogen and electric vehicles will create local jobs, and renewable energy and energy transition industries will be able to revitalize local economies," adding, "We must create livelihoods for cities while coexisting with nature, and together with our local communities and nation, cultivate climate change response policies."

The "Declaration Ceremony for Climate Crisis of Basic Local Governments" held today, organized and co-hosted by 11 organizations including the National Association of Mayors, Governors, and District Heads, the Local Government Association for Sustainable Development, the Local Government Association for Climate Crisis Response and Energy Transition, and the ICLEI Korea Office, proceeded with congratulatory remarks from Minister of Environment Cho Moong-rae, keynote speech by Mayor Yeom Tae-young, and the declaration of 'Climate Crisis Emergency Declaration'.

Participants announced the "Climate Emergency Declaration of Basic Local Governments in the Republic of Korea," in which 219 out of 225 basic local governments nationwide participated, and declared that "we are now in a climate crisis emergency situation."

They further emphasized, "The existing national-centered, centralized energy system cannot respond to the climate crisis," and stressed that "we must transition the existing energy system and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all energy consumption."

Basic local governments participating in the emergency declaration declared they will implement: ▲Setting greenhouse gas reduction targets that limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees ▲Requesting that the government and National Assembly declare a climate crisis emergency situation and declare national carbon neutrality by 2050 ▲Expanding renewable energy and establishing energy independence plans to be implemented in phases in response to the climate crisis ▲Establishing and responsibly implementing institutional promotion systems to overcome sustainability crises together with citizens.