The proclamation ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on the 9th in the multipurpose auditorium on the 2nd floor of the district office... Declaring the first year of implementation and practice of a carbon-neutral city
Plans to promote designation as a carbon-neutral city, including encouraging resident participation and establishing the ‘Dongdaemun-gu Carbon Neutral Support Center’
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) will hold the ‘Dongdaemun-gu 2050 Carbon Neutral City Proclamation Ceremony’ at 2 p.m. on the 9th in the multipurpose auditorium on the 2nd floor of the district office to actively respond to the intensifying climate crisis.
A ‘carbon-neutral city’ refers to a city where the net emissions of greenhouse gases?calculated by offsetting the amount of greenhouse gases emitted, released, or leaked into the atmosphere with the amount absorbed?reach zero.
The district is currently establishing the ‘2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Basic Plan’ with the goal of realizing a carbon-neutral city by 2050. To firmly establish the will to implement and practice carbon neutrality, the ‘Dongdaemun-gu 2050 Carbon Neutral Proclamation Ceremony’ will be held, designating 2023 as the inaugural year for the implementation and practice of a carbon-neutral city.
The ‘Dongdaemun-gu 2050 Carbon Neutral City Proclamation Ceremony’ will be divided into two parts, starting with a congratulatory performance by the district youth orchestra as a pre-event. The first part will feature a promotional video and a special lecture.
The second part will include the declaration of the carbon-neutral city vision, the appointment and oath-taking of the Youth Climate Environment Guardians, signing of joint agreements with eight institutions and organizations including local universities, and will conclude with a performance by all attendees to reaffirm their commitment to carbon neutrality.
Notably, the ‘Dongdaemun-gu Youth Climate Environment Guardians,’ composed of local elementary and middle school students, will hold their inauguration ceremony at this event, drawing attention.
This is significant as the youth, who are the future generation, will participate in responding to the climate and environmental crisis. The district plans to gradually expand the number of Youth Climate Environment Guardians, currently about 50.
Meanwhile, the district has established a Carbon Neutral Basic Ordinance and formed a Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee, designating the deputy mayor as the person responsible for carbon neutrality implementation, thereby laying an institutional foundation to improve air quality and protect residents’ health.
In the future, the district plans to establish the ‘Dongdaemun-gu Carbon Neutral Support Center’ to promote designation as a carbon-neutral city. It will develop various educational programs, conduct education and publicity, and encourage active resident participation by producing and distributing a ‘My Own Carbon Neutral Practice Pledge (10 items)’ to enable residents to practice carbon neutrality on their own.
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “As concerns about climate change grow day by day, carbon neutrality must be realized for the safe future of our residents. Starting with this proclamation ceremony, we ask for the support and participation of residents so that Dongdaemun-gu can proactively respond to the climate crisis and rise as a global standard human city.”
Dobong-gu to Reduce 43,917 Tons of Greenhouse Gases in 2023 to Achieve 2050 Carbon Neutrality
Reduction targets set based on detailed implementation plans for 40 tasks reflecting regional characteristics
Campaigns and environmental education to improve residents’ awareness and practical capabilities also underway
Dobong-gu’s self-developed ‘Zero Carbon Mileage’ to be fully operational from April
Dobong-gu (District Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is marking the second year of its ‘8th Term Carbon Neutral Urban Environment Creation Promotion’ announced last year by aiming to reduce 43,917 tons of greenhouse gases this year, laying the foundation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Dobong-gu has prioritized establishing detailed implementation plans for 40 tasks across seven sectors?green buildings, transportation, energy, circulation, forests, lifestyle, and education?that reflect regional characteristics. Based on these, the district set a 2023 target to reduce 43,917 tons of greenhouse gases. Going forward, quarterly performance checks and evaluations will be conducted to enhance execution.
Additionally, the district is promoting three Dobong-specific policies to raise residents’ awareness of carbon neutrality and enhance their practical capabilities.
First, the ‘Dobong Residents’ Pledge to Reduce 4 Tons of Greenhouse Gases Per Person’ campaign is underway. This green lifestyle movement encourages practical actions such as using public transportation, reducing food waste, and eco-friendly driving?ten key greenhouse gas reduction practices residents pledge to follow. Since its launch in April 2021, 21,018 people have participated. The district plans to expand awareness by visiting apartment complexes and multi-use facilities with environmental groups, conducting street promotions, and linking with environmental education programs. Participation in the ‘Reduce 4 Tons of Greenhouse Gases Per Person’ campaign is available on the Dobong-gu website (Life → Cleaning/Environment → Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pledge).
Second, Dobong-gu is intensively nurturing ‘Zero-Cs,’ local greenhouse gas reduction promoters. Zero-Cs complete training programs at the Dobong Environmental Education Center and spread carbon-neutral lifestyle practices to family, friends, and neighbors. This year, training will be segmented into adult, youth, and children categories, with courses expanded to seed, advanced, and expert levels. Since 2021, a total of 1,635 people have been trained.
Third, Dobong-gu will newly operate its unique environmental mileage system, the ‘Zero Carbon Mileage,’ starting this year. Almost all greenhouse gas reduction activities feasible in daily life will earn mileage points, which can be exchanged for incentives. The IT system is nearing completion, with pilot operations planned before full launch in April. Accumulated mileage can be exchanged for Dobong Love Gift Certificates, expected to help revitalize the local economy.
Meanwhile, Dobong-gu established a four-year plan for ‘Carbon Neutral Urban Environment Creation’ with a policy goal to reduce 116,529 tons of greenhouse gases by 2026, which is 10% less than 2018 emissions, to proactively respond to the climate crisis since the 8th term began last year.
In the inaugural year 2022, the district reduced 36,768 tons of greenhouse gases. These efforts earned recognition with Environment Minister Awards at the Korea Local Government Management Awards and Solar League, and Dobong-gu was the only domestic local government to receive the highest grade (A) for two consecutive years in the international Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) evaluation, gaining acclaim domestically and internationally.
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is now a global task defined by laws and ordinances beyond declarations and promises. We will create a carbon-neutral urban environment that proactively responds to the climate crisis by implementing policies tailored to regional characteristics.”
Seocho-gu Supports Carbon Neutral Practice through Environmental Education for Future Generations
Third-grade social studies ‘Village Textbook’ introduces local environmental projects
Activities for eco-friendly green living such as carbon zero shops, eco-friendly compost making, and smart collection bins introduced
District strengthens customized school environmental education for infants, children, and youth
Seocho-gu (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) is conducting systematic environmental education for residents to respond to the increasingly serious climate crisis and realize carbon neutrality in Seocho by 2050.
The district is especially promoting customized environmental education for infants, children, and youth to help them, as future environmental stewards and protectors, develop environmental sensitivity and lead carbon-neutral practices through the normalization of eco-friendly habits.
First, in cooperation with the Gangnam-Seocho Office of Education, Seocho-gu has included various local environmental projects in the third-grade social studies ‘Village Textbook’ starting this year, tailored to children’s perspectives.
The district introduced environmental practice projects in a two-page section titled ‘Seocho-gu People Protecting the Environment’ within the ‘Village Textbook,’ designed to be accessible to children.
The first page introduces efforts and activities in the district to practice eco-friendly green living, such as carbon zero shops, eco-friendly compost making, and smart collection bins. The second page features environmental quizzes that help children learn where to deliver reused items like hangers and ice packs. A QR code is also included to easily locate the district’s carbon zero shops and transparent PET bottle collection bins.
Additionally, the district operates a ‘Visiting Climate School’ focused on local daycare centers and kindergartens, offering plays and magic shows tailored to young children’s understanding.
For elementary, middle, and high school students, creative and experiential ecological and environmental education programs such as resource recycling DIY workshops, vacation special environmental education, and the Seocho Eco Challenge will be provided.
Meanwhile, the district is expanding social environmental education involving residents in daily life, promoting campaigns and environmental commemorative events for green living. It also aims to establish a resident-led resource circulation culture and carbon reduction practice through the activation of the ‘Carbon Zero Shop,’ a resource circulation network project between residents and businesses.
Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “We will discover and support various environmental education contents so that residents can properly recognize environmental issues such as the climate crisis and strengthen their practical capabilities in resource recycling and energy saving.”
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