High Marks in All Areas Including Greenhouse Gas Reduction...
Three Consecutive Years with the Highest Rating from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy?The Only District in Seoul
Dobong District (District Mayor Oh Unseok) has achieved the remarkable feat of being the only autonomous district in Seoul to receive the highest rating for three consecutive years from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM).
The district announced that on April 15, at the '2025 ICLEI Korea Members Local Government General Assembly' held at KINTEX in Goyang, it was awarded the 'Compliant' certificate, the highest badge from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy.
This is an important achievement that demonstrates the district's position as a leading local government in responding to climate change and realizing carbon neutrality.
GCoM is an international organization established in 2017 through the merger of the Compact of Mayors and the Covenant of Mayors in Europe, both of which were focused on climate change response. More than 13,500 local governments from over 140 countries participate. Dobong District joined on October 24, 2019.
Member cities are required to report and be evaluated annually on their progress in fulfilling commitments such as greenhouse gas reduction, climate change adaptation, and energy accessibility.
The evaluation consists of nine items across three sectors: three items in the mitigation sector (greenhouse gas inventory, targets, and plans), three items in the adaptation sector (assessment, targets, and plans), and three items in the energy sector (assessment, targets, and plans). If a city meets a certain standard in these items, it receives a GCoM badge. The energy sector is included in the evaluation but does not qualify for badge awards.
Last year, the district received badges in all six eligible items, earning the 'Compliant' certificate, which is the highest rating from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy.
This achievement is the result of the district's systematic and consistent climate policy implementation, efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, and active resident participation, among other comprehensive efforts.
Since receiving three implementation badges in its first evaluation in 2020, the district has made various efforts, including establishing a detailed inventory of greenhouse gas emission sources from 2021 and formulating both climate change response and adaptation plans.
As a result, from the 2022 evaluation through 2024, the district earned badges in all six eligible items each year, receiving the highest 'Compliant' certificate for three consecutive years.
Oh Unseok, Mayor of Dobong District, stated, "Our efforts to adapt to the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gases have been recognized by the international community with the highest rating for three consecutive years. As a member of the international community, we will continue to fulfill our responsibilities and roles together with all Dobong District residents to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050."
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