Gwangju Buk-gu Secures 140 Million KRW in National Funding for Climate Change Vulnerable Groups Support Project

On the 28th, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City announced that it has been selected for the Ministry of Environment's '2024 Climate Change Vulnerable Groups Support Project' and secured '140 million KRW in national funding.'

The Climate Change Vulnerable Groups Support Project is a program supported by the Ministry of Environment to strengthen the protection of vulnerable groups who have poor capacity to respond efficiently to rapid climate changes such as heatwaves and cold waves, in accordance with the Carbon Neutrality Basic Act.

In this support project competition, Buk-gu's 'Heat-Reflective Paint Coating Project for Social Welfare Facilities' was selected.

This project reflects the regional characteristics of Buk-gu, where many low-income groups are concentrated, by supporting the application of heat-reflective paint with solar heat reflection and blocking functions on 14 aging social welfare facilities. The main goal is to promote the health of vulnerable groups to heatwaves during summer, such as the elderly, disabled, and children, who are the primary users of these welfare facilities, by reducing indoor temperatures.

The total project cost is 280 million KRW, combining the secured national funding and matching local government funds. Buk-gu plans to complete the budget allocation process by December and start the project in January next year. The construction will be promptly completed within the first half of the year before the onset of the intense heat, and the project effects will be reviewed in the second half of the year.

Buk-gu expects that the heat-reflective paint coating project will not only improve the indoor environment of welfare facilities but also reduce energy consumption in buildings, thereby contributing to greenhouse gas reduction.

Moon In, the mayor of Buk-gu, said, "This project was prepared to effectively support vulnerable groups frequently affected by heatwaves due to recent rapid climate changes," adding, "We will continue to do our best to diversify and strengthen support projects for marginalized groups suffering from inequalities caused by climate changes such as heatwaves and cold waves."