'Hwaseong Declaration' Adopted for a Sustainable Future at the Korea Sustainable Development Conference

Calling for Accelerated Transition to a Carbon-Neutral Society
Addressing the Climate Crisis through Public-Private Cooperation and Civil Society Solidarity

At the "2025 Korea Sustainable Development Conference" held in the Hwaseong area of Gyeonggi Province, a joint declaration was adopted to address the climate crisis through public-private cooperation and citizen solidarity.

Hwaseong City announced on the 10th that the "Korea Sustainable Development Conference," which was held over three days from the 5th to the 7th under the theme "Innovation of Technology and Inclusion: Finding the Path for Korea in Hwaseong," concluded successfully.

Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong City, is delivering a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the "Korea Sustainable Development Conference." Provided by Hwaseong City

With more than 3,000 participants, including experts from the public sector, private sector, industry, academia, and research institutes, the conference is being recognized for presenting a new milestone in "K-sustainability."

On the first day of the conference, the opening ceremony was held at Jeongjo Hyopark, where the "Hwaseong-style ESG Governance Launch Ceremony" took place to symbolize the core value of "cooperation." The "Hwaseong-style ESG Governance" is a three-way cooperation system that connects public support from local governments, corporate social responsibility, and civil society activities to jointly resolve local issues.

During the conference, the "Korea Sustainable Development Contest" and the "Korea Solar League Awards Ceremony" were also held. The Sustainable Development Contest is an award that discovers and encourages outstanding sustainable development practices from across the country. The Solar League is an event that rewards local governments and citizens for outstanding achievements in the distribution of renewable energy, encouraging the transition to a carbon-neutral society.

At the opening ceremony, participants achieved the milestone of adopting the "Korea Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Hwaseong Declaration."

The declaration calls for directly confronting ecological limits and the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral society. To this end, it emphasizes the "Great Transition," in which local governments and sustainable development councils play a central role in the process of public-private cooperation and civil society solidarity, while establishing a system in which youth and citizens directly participate in monitoring the implementation, thus continuing the commitment across generations.

At the opening ceremony of the '2025 Korea Sustainable Development Conference,' attendees are performing the adoption of the 'Korea SDGs 2030 Hwaseong Declaration.' Provided by Hwaseong City

During the conference, Hwaseong Citizen University hosted a large-scale conference featuring 23 topic-specific sessions and the 2025 Sustainable Development Autumn Academic Conference. The conference discussed key SDG agendas, including: ▲ 30 Years of Tangible Sustainable Development for the Public ▲ Responding to the Climate Crisis and Energy Transition ▲ Citizen-led Village Creation ▲ Revitalizing Education for Sustainable Development ▲ Biodiversity Conservation.

In the special session "Urban Solution Spark: From Hwaseong to the Nation," Hwaseong City officials, members of the Hwaseong Sustainable Development Council, and sustainable development experts and activists from across the country gathered for in-depth discussions. The special session focused on Hwaseong City's core issues: ▲ Advancement of the Autonomous Driving Living Lab ▲ RE100 Future Industrial Complex ▲ Establishment of an Integrated Care System ▲ Carbon Reduction by Citizens and Companies.

During the conference, five on-site exploration programs linked to the "Hwaseong City Tour - Good Travel Day" were also held. This program is a responsible travel initiative for a sustainable future, designed to respect local residents and preserve the natural environment and cultural heritage. Participants experienced firsthand Hwaseong City's sustainable development sites, including the Golden Coast Trail, the Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site, and the Maehyang-ri Peace Memorial Hall.

Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong City, stated, "This conference was a meaningful occasion to share the city's core values of 'technology and inclusion' nationwide and to jointly seek the path toward a sustainable Korea. We will actively reflect the valuable proposals discussed at the conference in our city administration to build Hwaseong into a leading city for sustainable development."