Heatwave and Tropical Night Weather Anomalies Continue... Seoul Districts Accelerate Carbon Neutrality Efforts

Heatwaves and tropical nights.

This summer, they have been the greatest hardships experienced by the public. Even though it is September 10, daytime temperatures continue to exceed 30 degrees Celsius by a wide margin.

Although the season is early autumn, the weather still feels like summer.

Because of all this temperature-related suffering, calls for carbon neutrality are growing louder.

Seoul’s autonomous districts are accelerating their carbon neutrality initiatives.

Energy Zero City Nowon

Nowon-gu Selected as First Target for Carbon Neutral Leading City

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has been selected as a first target site for the "Carbon Neutral Leading City Contest," jointly hosted by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

This contest is part of the government’s New Growth 4.0 project and aims to build a sustainable urban model that maximizes carbon neutrality implementation through cooperation among government, local communities, and the private sector in response to the climate crisis.

The first target sites were selected from 39 preliminary candidate local governments nationwide designated last year. After receiving proposals in July and undergoing evaluation by a review committee, a total of 13 regions were selected, with Nowon-gu being the only district from Seoul.

In this contest, the district focused on its characteristic of having the highest proportion of aging housing over 30 years old among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts, judging that carbon neutrality efforts in the building sector are essential. It adopted the slogan "Rebuild: First Carbon Neutral New City Nowon."

Specifically, based on solid infrastructure such as the establishment of a ‘real-time data platform’ and ‘green infrastructure,’ it proposed an effective greenhouse gas reduction strategy involving the entire population through pioneering and sustainable policies like the ‘building greenhouse gas total volume system’ and the ‘early promotion of ZEB (Zero Energy Building) for new buildings.’

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plan to select the final target sites (two) through a competition at the end of October among the cities selected in the first round. Once selected, national funding will be provided starting in 2025.

The district plans to thoroughly prepare to be finally selected as a carbon neutral leading city by presenting specialized projects as an advanced urban carbon neutrality model that can be expanded to other local governments at the second competition scheduled for October.

Nowon-gu views effective control of energy use and carbon emissions from buildings in urban areas as a key issue in carbon neutrality policy. Last year, it established a ‘Public Building Zero Energy Building Roadmap’ and is applying it step-by-step. All public buildings newly constructed or renovated by the district will maximize energy efficiency using passive construction methods, and the district plans to promote mandatory ZEB implementation earlier than the government roadmap.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We feel the heavy responsibility of local governments in facing the climate crisis and have made various efforts such as spreading solar energy for carbon neutrality. We will do our best to ensure that Nowon-gu is selected as the first carbon neutral new city among autonomous districts.”

Jongno-gu Holds Carbon Neutral Lifestyle Practice Challenge Until October 5

Jongno-gu (Mayor Jeong Mun-heon) is conducting a ‘Carbon Neutral Lifestyle Practice Challenge’ event for one month from September 6 to October 5.

The event was planned to commemorate ‘Resource Circulation Day’ (September 6 every year), jointly established by the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Waste Association to raise awareness of environmental protection and resource recycling.

The purpose is to encourage environmentally friendly actions that anyone can easily practice in daily life to respond to the climate crisis and accelerate carbon neutrality.

Participants will join climate action to lower the earth’s temperature by using AI-powered recycling machines to separate and dispose of cans, PET bottles, and other recyclables for at least three days during the event period.

Any interested resident can submit a pledge for the ‘1·1·1 Lifestyle Practice Movement,’ which aims to reduce 1 ton of greenhouse gases per person per year, on the district office website, then submit a certification photo of using the AI recycling machine by accessing the QR code on the poster.

Jongno-gu plans to select 50 winners by lottery and provide eco-friendly dishwashing kits worth about 10,000 won, consisting of a dishwashing bar, natural loofah, and soap dish.

The winners will be announced on October 14. For more details, contact the Jongno-gu website or the Environment Management Team.

Jeong Mun-heon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, emphasized, “Carbon neutrality has become a global imperative, not a choice, to leave a better world for future generations. We hope this event will build a consensus among residents on environmental conservation.”