Incheon City Leads with 55.7%, Sudokwon Landfill Corporation Soars to 41%
Assemblyman Heo Jongsik: "Public Sector Must Show Results in Climate Crisis Response"
Incheon International Airport Corporation recorded the lowest greenhouse gas reduction rate among public institutions in the Incheon area.
According to the 'Greenhouse Gas Reduction Status of Public Institutions in the Incheon Area' received by Heo Jong-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu Gap), from the Ministry of Environment, 16 out of 33 public institutions failed to achieve the 36% greenhouse gas reduction target for 2023.
Among them, Incheon Airport Corporation reduced only 5% (12,283 tonCO₂-eq reduction) of the baseline emissions of 245,143 tonCO₂-eq. The annual reduction rates were 4.1% in 2021, 4.5% in 2022, and 5.0% in 2023, showing only a 0.5 percentage point increase compared to the previous year.
Heo's office analyzed that the average greenhouse gas reduction rate of public institutions in Incheon was 34.8%, falling short of the 36% reduction target, largely due to Incheon Airport Corporation lowering the average.
Compared to the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation, which achieved the greenhouse gas reduction target with rates soaring from 18.7% in 2021, 32.1% in 2022, to 41.0% in 2023, it is pointed out that Incheon Airport Corporation must establish drastic measures to transform into an eco-friendly airport.
Meanwhile, Incheon City showed the best performance among 33 public institutions with a reduction rate of 55.7%. Among the 10 districts and counties, Yeonsu-gu ranked first with 50.2%, followed by Bupyeong-gu at 38.0%, and Michuhol-gu at 36.7%. Ganghwa-gun recorded the lowest rate at 30.3%.
According to the 'Basic Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Climate Crisis Response,' local governments, public institutions, and local public corporations and organizations must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% by 2030 compared to the average annual emissions from 2007 to 2009 (baseline emissions). Reduction targets are set annually based on the 2007-2009 greenhouse gas emissions, and the reduction target rate for 2023 is 36%.
Rep. Heo emphasized, "Efforts and achievements in the public sector must serve as a model to respond to the climate crisis," adding, "Public institutions that fail to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, including Incheon Airport Corporation, must thoroughly establish reduction plans and take the lead in carbon neutrality."
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