Institutionalizing Support for Citizen Participation in "1.5℃ Climate Volunteers" Activities
Park Seungwon: "This Will Lay the Foundation for a Carbon-Neutral City"
Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province has established a legal framework to systematically support citizen-centered carbon neutrality activities.
Gwangmyeong City has enacted an ordinance to support citizen-centered carbon neutrality activities. Park Seungwon, mayor of Gwangmyeong City, is pledging to practice carbon neutrality at the event of the citizen carbon neutrality activity group '1.5℃ Climate Volunteers.' Photo by Gwangmyeong City
On July 7, Gwangmyeong City announced that it had enacted the "Ordinance on Supporting the Activities of the Gwangmyeong City 1.5℃ Climate Volunteers" on July 4. The ordinance is designed to systematically support and institutionalize citizen participation in carbon neutrality activities.
The ordinance designates the "Gwangmyeong City 1.5℃ Climate Volunteers," a citizen climate action group, as the main actor in policy implementation. The "1.5℃ Climate Volunteers" is an organization established in 2021 with the goal of preventing a temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Currently, about 14,300 citizens and 51 organizations are participating in its activities.
The ordinance also designates the mayor of Gwangmyeong City as the "Commander-in-Chief" of the "1.5℃ Climate Volunteers," assigning responsibilities such as establishing and implementing policies, developing initiatives, and supporting activities necessary for promoting carbon neutrality and encouraging citizen participation.
The existing "Gwangmyeong City Carbon Neutrality Center" will also be renamed the "Gwangmyeong City 1.5℃ Climate Volunteers Support Center." The center will expand its roles to include establishing project plans related to citizen-participatory carbon neutrality policies, providing education, and building systems to enhance citizen engagement.
Park Seungwon, mayor of Gwangmyeong City, stated, "Institutionalizing support for citizens' climate crisis response activities is essential because citizen participation is crucial for achieving a carbon-neutral society," adding, "This ordinance will serve as a solid foundation for realizing a citizen-led carbon-neutral city."
This month, the city plans to conduct a pilot "carbon neutrality practice monitoring" program at 11 major events. Climate Volunteers will directly participate to check on-site implementation of climate actions, such as the use of reusable containers and proper recycling separation.
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