Gyeongnam Province to Reduce Air Pollutant Emissions by 50,000 Tons by 2024 with 1.095 Trillion Won Investment

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 30th that it has established the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Air Environment Management Implementation Plan' to reduce air pollutant emissions by more than 50,000 tons by 2024 and improve air quality.

This plan is a detailed plan targeting Changwon-si, Jinju-si, Gimhae-si, Yangsan-si, Goseong-gun, and Hadong-gun, which were designated as air management zones to implement the 'Basic Plan for Air Environment Management in the Southeastern Region' established by the Nakdonggang River Basin Environmental Office under the 'Special Act on the Improvement of Air Environment in Air Management Zones.'

The province will promote the plan over five years from 2020 to 2024 under the vision of 'Clear and Pleasant Air, Healthy Gyeongnam.'

The plan has prepared five key reduction measures to achieve the air quality target concentrations for the six cities designated as air management zones: fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) 17㎍/㎥, particulate matter (PM 10) 33㎍/㎥, nitrogen oxides 0.015ppm, and ozone 0.060ppm.

The five areas are emission facility management, road mobile pollution sources, non-road mobile pollution sources, residential pollution source management, and policy foundation strengthening.

The province plans to invest a total of 1.095 trillion KRW over five years to carry out the project.

Upon completion of the implementation plan, it is estimated that compared to the 2024 business-as-usual (BAU) emission forecast without artificial measures, emissions of PM 2.5 will be reduced by 572 tons, PM 10 by 11,607 tons, nitrogen oxides by 25,099 tons, sulfur oxides by 16,638 tons, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 6,716 tons, totaling a reduction of 50,632 tons of air pollutants.

A Gyeongnam-do official stated, "We will do our best to create a clear and pleasant air environment so that residents can live with peace of mind by steadily promoting air pollutant reduction projects," and added, "This implementation plan will be officially promoted after approval by the Ministry of Environment."