Carbon Neutral Edu Center's Dual Wings... Expanding Resident Participation in Carbon Neutral Practices
Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do is accelerating efforts to make Haenam a leading region for carbon neutrality.
According to the county on the 19th, a kickoff briefing for the Green Convergence Cluster Development Plan was held on the 12th, where it was decided to flawlessly proceed with the local government-led project to realize carbon neutrality, a national priority task.
The briefing was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Jeollanam-do, and Haenam-gun, and organized by the Korea Institute for Industrial Relations. Various ministries, local governments, companies, and research institutions attended to discuss diverse opinions to ensure the Green Convergence Cluster Development Plan is solidly established.
The Green Convergence Cluster is a full-cycle support facility for research and development, demonstration, and market development of recycling technologies for used solar panels. The Ministry of Environment plans to invest a total of 45 billion KRW to establish the cluster on a 34,000㎡ site in the Solar City Enterprise District.
The cluster will include research and development (R&D) facilities, demonstration performance testing sites, testing and certification centers, and corporate support facilities. Selected in last year’s Ministry of Environment public project competition, the basic conceptual plan service started this year, aiming for completion in 2028.
As the distribution of solar power generation increases, the amount of used panels is also rapidly rising, with an estimated 6,796 tons of used panels expected nationwide by 2029.
Once established, the Green Convergence Cluster is expected to build a circular economy by fostering technologies and industries for recycling and reusing used solar panels, serving as a stepping stone to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Solar City Enterprise District will also house the ‘Carbon Neutrality Edu Center,’ responsible for public education, exhibitions, and experiences related to carbon neutrality. With a total project cost of 42.5 billion KRW, the center aims for completion in 2026 and is currently undergoing basic and detailed design.
As the gateway to climate change on the Korean Peninsula, Haenam-gun is increasing its role in implementing carbon neutrality in response to climate change by introducing ‘Haenam-style ESG management’ across all areas of county administration to proactively practice carbon neutrality.
Especially since the 8th local government term, Haenam-gun has established the ‘Haenam Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Basic Plan and Environmental Plan’ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieve net zero (100%) by 2050. It is focusing on laying the foundation for the environmental sector (E) by enacting basic ordinances for carbon neutrality and green growth in response to the climate crisis and operating the 2050 Carbon Neutrality Green Growth Committee.
In May, Haenam-gun was selected for the Smart Green City public project, and the Haenam Resource Circulation Complex Center, which has been promoted, opened to present a new model for resource circulation.
At the recycling exchange center, a resident participation resource circulation project operates where residents earn points by bringing recyclable materials. There are also refill shops where residents bring containers to fill with needed items, recycling sharing spaces for used goods, and shared item rental centers.
Through the public project, Haenam-gun is building the Resource Circulation Complex Center, installing resource circulation facilities such as unmanned collection machines, and establishing an integrated service platform.
Additionally, through projects like the Carbon Neutrality Village Creation Project, Carbon Neutrality Practice Leading Village Project, and the Carbon Neutrality Lifestyle Practice Excellent Apartment Competition, residents are actively participating and rapidly spreading carbon neutrality practices in daily life.
A county official said, “Haenam-gun will establish itself as the undisputed number one region for carbon neutrality through the twin pillars of the Carbon Neutrality Edu Center and the Green Convergence Cluster, with active participation from residents in practicing carbon neutrality.”
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