Exploring Climate Change Response Strategies in Conjunction with the World Green Growth Forum
Korea's First Citizen-Participatory Local Assembly... Sharing Achievements Globally
On May 15, Pohang City opened a new chapter in climate crisis response by hosting the "2025 Pohang Town Hall COP" at the Lahan Hotel, introducing a citizen-centered climate action model to the world.
This Town Hall COP was held as a side event of the World Green Growth Forum (WGGF), and its achievements will be promoted globally through ICLEI World Secretariat.
The Town Hall COP is a scaled-down version of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP). The Pohang Town Hall COP held on this day drew attention as Korea's first citizen-participatory local climate assembly registered with the international community.
The event brought together over 100 participants, including citizens, government officials, and environmental experts, to explore various strategies for climate change response led by local governments.
At the event, Pohang City presented concrete regional strategies for responding to the climate crisis and emphasized the importance of climate action in collaboration with citizens.
Do Myung, Director of Pohang City's Environmental Bureau, presented Pohang's carbon reduction targets, next-generation industry development plans, and strategies for ecological restoration as part of the city's climate crisis response.
Park Yeonhee, Head of the ICLEI Korea Office, highlighted the need for cooperation between the international community and local governments and explored regional approaches to climate change response.
Choi Jiweon, Secretary General of the Climate Change Center, discussed the definition and necessity of climate crisis adaptation, while Park Mijeong, Director of the International Center, gave a presentation on a just transition led by citizens.
After the presentations, participants engaged in on-site Q&A and in-depth discussions, providing an opportunity for citizens and experts to jointly consider solutions to the climate crisis.
Since declaring its "2050 Carbon Neutral Environmental Dream City Pohang" vision in 2021, Pohang City has been pursuing a variety of strategies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
A city official stated, "This Town Hall COP was an important opportunity to confirm that citizens are both stakeholders and key agents in addressing the climate crisis. Pohang is leading the transition toward a sustainable future as an industrial city, and based on the outcomes of these discussions, we plan to further strengthen citizen-centered climate governance."
Last year, Pohang City attended the 29th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it promoted its carbon neutrality strategies and citizen-participatory climate action cases to the international community, highlighting the city's climate leadership.
This November, Pohang City also plans to participate in COP30 in Belem, Brazil, to share its carbon neutrality strategies with the world.
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