Hwaseong City Opens Carbon Neutral Support Center as Policy Hub for Carbon Neutrality

Annual National Funding of 100 Million Won Secured Until 2028

The 'Hwaseong Special City Carbon Neutral Support Center', which will serve as the hub for Hwaseong City's carbon neutrality policies in Gyeonggi Province, opened on the 10th at the Hwaseong City Research Institute.

At the opening ceremony of the 'Hwaseong Special City Carbon Neutral Support Center' held on the 10th at the Hwaseong City Research Institute, attendees are unveiling the signboard. Photo by Hwaseong City

The establishment of the center was made possible after the city was selected for a Ministry of Environment public project last year. The city designated the Hwaseong City Research Institute as the operating agency and began operations in February.

The center functions as a hub for implementing the city's carbon neutrality and green growth policies. The center will receive 100 million won in national funding annually until 2028.

The center will carry out roles such as: supporting the establishment and implementation of basic plans for carbon neutrality and green growth; supporting the development and execution of climate crisis adaptation measures; building a greenhouse gas database and developing an inventory system; identifying greenhouse gas reduction projects; and providing education and public relations for citizens to raise awareness of carbon neutrality.

On this day, the city also held the '1st Carbon Neutral Hwaseong Forum' at the center. At the forum, presentations were given by Kim Jungin, professor at Chung-Ang University; Shim Jaeseong, head of the Gyeonggi-do Carbon Neutral Support Center; and Jeong Jaehyung, head of the Hwaseong Special City Carbon Neutral Support Center, under the theme 'Carbon Neutrality Policies of the New Government and Hwaseong Special City's Response Strategies.'

Jeong Guwon, the First Deputy Mayor of Hwaseong City, said, "I hope the center will establish itself as a core institution leading the city's sustainable future through professional research and support activities on climate change, energy, and greenhouse gases."

Earlier, in April, Hwaseong City established the 'Hwaseong City Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Basic Plan' to proactively respond to the climate crisis. The basic plan presents the vision of 'Hwaseong, a climate and economic special city for carbon-neutral green transition with citizens,' and sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

As greenhouse gas reduction strategies in line with the plan, the city is pursuing: strengthening the creation of citizen-participatory green architecture; establishing eco-friendly transportation systems; building eco-friendly agricultural and fisheries ecosystems; improving the structure of a carbon-neutral circular economy; securing and strengthening absorption and response capacity in the Hwaseong area; and enhancing the ecosystem for eco-friendly energy transition.