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Establishment of the ‘2050 Carbon Neutral City Promotion Plan’ Lays the Foundation for the Carbon Neutral Basic Plan, the Highest Legal-Level Plan
Focused Promotion of Specialized Reduction Projects in Nowon-gu’s Key Areas such as Buildings, Energy, Transportation, Waste, and Carbon Sinks through the ‘Nowon Carbon Neutral 2050 Residents’ Assembly’ to Strengthen Residents’ Roles... Expected to Become a Leading Model of Urban Carbon Neutrality through a Systematic Implementation Framework
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is taking full-scale steps toward becoming a ‘Carbon Neutral City, Nowon.’
The district has established the ‘2050 Carbon Neutral City Promotion Plan’ to set future directions and ensure systematic implementation for ‘Carbon Neutral City, Nowon.’
The core strategies of the promotion plan include resident participation projects centered on the ‘Nowon Carbon Neutral 2050 Residents’ Assembly’ and regionally specialized reduction projects such as ‘Promotion of Carbon Neutral Redevelopment and Reconstruction.’
First, the district will form a residents’ assembly composed of about 100 carbon neutral leaders. This is to strengthen the role of residents as the main agents of carbon neutrality implementation and to expand voluntary reduction effects. The assembly will bring together various stakeholders such as civic groups, religious and educational institutions, local business associations, and resident autonomy organizations to discover resident leadership and carry out proactive practice campaigns.
The assembly will be formed in the second half of this year, hold an inauguration ceremony, and encourage voluntary activities through various activity committees. Budget support will be provided if necessary.
Additionally, the district will discover specialized projects tailored to local characteristics. Nowon-gu has 55 apartment complexes with over 30 years of age, totaling about 74,000 households, the largest number among Seoul’s autonomous districts this year. Given the high demand for redevelopment and reconstruction, the district aims to present a leading model for carbon neutral reconstruction and create carbon neutral residential complexes by supporting Zero Energy Building (ZEB) certified design and consulting.
Notable efforts also include the RE100 (Renewable Electricity 100) campaign and energy efficiency improvement projects targeting 10 high-energy-consuming buildings that account for 13.8% of the total building energy consumption in Nowon-gu, as well as expanding the supply of Nowon-type solar power plants in apartment complexes.
This focus on energy transition and efficiency improvement in the building sector reflects that 68% of Nowon-gu’s greenhouse gas emissions (as of 2020) come from buildings such as residences.
Other notable specialized local projects include establishing an electric vehicle leading city linked to the local economy, culture, and youth jobs; promoting carbon neutral modernization of the Seoul Nowon Resource Recovery Facility; and securing urban forests in residential areas to expand carbon sinks.
The district will support effective policy implementation through a systematic execution of 35 policy projects across seven major sectors covering the entire district administration: ▲Energy Transition ▲Green Buildings ▲Future Transportation ▲Resource Circulation ▲Green Space Conservation ▲Public Leadership ▲Just Transition, as well as through 11 projects in three foundational areas: ▲Strengthening Resident Participation and Public-Private Cooperation ▲Innovation in Carbon Neutral Organization and Culture ▲Enhancement of Policy Project Implementation.
Meanwhile, the ‘Nowon-gu 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee,’ launched on the 8th, reviewed and approved this promotion plan and is accelerating efforts toward carbon neutrality by 2050 with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
Co-chaired by the Mayor of Nowon-gu and Seo Wang-jin, former president of the Seoul Institute, the committee consists of 30 members including senior officials, experts in various carbon neutrality fields, and resident representatives. It deliberates and decides on major policies for the transition to a carbon neutral city and the promotion of green growth.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The systematic implementation process to achieve a carbon neutral society will become a leading model for urban carbon neutral policies. We will actively respond to the climate crisis by discovering and promoting policies tailored to Nowon’s characteristics together with residents.”
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