Pohang Mayor Lee Gang-deok to Achieve Healthy Urban Growth through Pohang-style 2050 Carbon Neutrality Initiatives
POSCO Pohang Steelworks.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk, attended the ‘2nd Steel Industry City Win-Win Environmental Forum’ held to share environmental policies of steel cities.
The ‘Steel Industry City Win-Win Environmental Forum’ was first held in 2019 by Pohang, Dangjin, and Gwangyang, the leading steel industry cities in Korea, to share environmental policies and promote cooperation and mutual growth.
At the first forum held in Pohang, the three cities agreed on the ‘Sustainable Green Steel City Creation and Win-Win Cooperation Agreement,’ and this year’s forum was held in Dangjin as promised.
At the forum, the three cities requested the Ministry of Environment to establish a dedicated team or branch office under the Environmental Agency that can manage integrated permits for pollution facilities and respond quickly to environmental pollution accidents.
Pohang requested support to expedite the ‘Ocheon-eup Hangsa Dam Construction Project’ for stable water supply in response to climate change.
The first part of the forum began with the opening address by the mayor of the host city Dangjin, followed by the joint recitation of the ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Joint Declaration’ by the Ministry of Environment, and the mayors of Pohang, Dangjin, and Gwangyang, as well as the steel plant heads of the three cities.
The second part featured a talk show and presentations by the Ministry of Environment, steel plants of each city, and private environmental monitoring groups.
In the presentations, the Ministry of Environment announced the current status of responses to building an implementation foundation following the enactment of the ‘Carbon Neutrality Basic Act’ promulgated last September.
Hyundai Steel presented on ‘ESG Management Promotion and Environmental Improvement Status,’ based on the increasing trend of companies declaring ‘RE100,’ a campaign to supply 100% of the electricity used by companies with renewable energy, emphasizing ESG management.
Pohang City announced that since the proclamation of ‘Environmental Dream City Pohang’ on April 22 and the ‘Pohang City Climate Crisis Overcoming Carbon Neutrality Practice Agreement’ on June 4, it has been conducting carbon reduction campaigns involving the city, companies, and civic groups.
Recently, it revealed the formation of the ‘Pohang City Carbon Neutrality Promotion Team’ to promote transformation into an eco-friendly city.
Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “It is essential for the three cities to cooperate to establish a new development model in the carbon neutrality field and prepare countermeasures for environmental issues,” adding, “We will do our best to practice Pohang-style 2050 carbon neutrality and devote all efforts to the healthy development of our city through future new industries such as batteries, bio, and hydrogen fuel cells.”
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