Jeonnam Province Declares Realization of a Carbon-Free Healthy Future, Clean Jeonnam

Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions by 92 Million Tons by 2050

Details Announced Including Closure of Thermal Power Plants and Promotion of Eco-Friendly Vehicles

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has declared the realization of a "Carbon-Free Healthy Future, Clean Jeonnam."

The province announced on the 3rd that it plans to reduce Jeonnam's carbon emissions from 92 million tons in 2017 by 30.5% (28 million tons) by 2030 and achieve a 100% reduction by 2050 through carbon reduction strategies in four major sectors.

To this end, it plans to invest approximately 75 trillion won in 102 projects across 10 major tasks in four key areas, including clean industries.

On the same day, a vision declaration ceremony for carbon neutrality by 2050 was held at the Expo Hall of the Yeosu World Expo Center.

Carbon neutrality is the concept of reducing carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activities and absorbing atmospheric emissions to achieve a net zero (Zero) emission balance.

Specifically, the plan includes reducing 36 million tons through carbon reduction in the industrial sector such as the closure of coal-fired power plants, 4 million tons by promoting eco-friendly transportation like hydrogen and electric vehicles, 26 million tons by transitioning to renewable energy such as offshore wind power, 2 million tons through smart agriculture, fisheries, and livestock, and 24 million tons by citizen participation movements such as planting over 500 million trees.

In the clean industry sector, efforts will be made to achieve zero coal-fired power generation by 2050, establish smart green industrial complexes and RE100 dedicated industrial complexes, manage total air pollutant emissions, and develop future technologies to reduce greenhouse gases.

In the clean energy sector, the province will utilize its abundant natural resources to create offshore wind power complexes, realize Jeonnam Province's RE100 by 2040 by replacing electricity consumption with renewable energy, and lead the hydrogen economy based on blue and green hydrogen through renewable energy and technology development.

In the clean living sector, expansion of eco-friendly vehicles based on electric and hydrogen cars, increasing carbon-zero buildings using carbon-zero certification and green remodeling, and ICT-based eco-friendly smart agriculture, fisheries, and livestock will be promoted.

In the clean forest sector, plans include planting over 500 million trees, expanding the forest carbon emission trading system, and creating 2,500 themed urban forests tailored to regional characteristics.

Additionally, to raise public awareness and encourage participation in carbon neutrality, the province plans to expand citizen greenhouse gas reduction campaigns such as the Carbon Hunter movement, carbon point system enrollment, public transportation use, and reusable shopping bag usage.

Jeonnam Province will concretize these strategies by establishing the "2050 Jeollanam-do Carbon Neutral Climate Change Response Plan" and the "Jeonnam Province Climate Change Adaptation Detailed Implementation Plan" by the end of the year.

It will also establish the "Jeollanam-do Greenhouse Gas Management Center" to oversee greenhouse gas management and form the "Carbon Neutral Promotion Committee" to gather diverse opinions from experts and citizens, aiming to achieve social consensus on carbon neutrality.

The province plans to propose to the government the establishment of the (tentatively named) National Green Science and Technology Research Institute, which will oversee future green technology development, and create a Jeonnam Province Climate Change Response Fund to promote the transition to a carbon-neutral society and support climate change response projects.

Governor Kim Young-rok stated, "Carbon neutrality is no longer a choice but a necessity, and it is an urgent issue directly related to the survival of humanity today, not a problem of the future. I hope all citizens will participate with the belief that small daily actions combined will surely achieve this goal."