Government Develops Operation Program for Carbon Neutrality Focus Schools

Joint Support by 6 Ministries Including Ministry of Education and Ministry of Environment
Quarterly Policy Council for Department Head-Level Attendees

A map showing the concentration levels of carbon monoxide emitted from a large fire that occurred in California, USA, on September 12 last year (Image source=AP Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 13th that it will develop an operation program for carbon-neutral focused schools to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Six ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea Forest Service, and Korea Meteorological Administration, held a business agreement ceremony at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the same day and pledged to closely cooperate to realize carbon neutrality in schools.

Going forward, they plan to actively discover and jointly support projects to realize carbon neutrality in schools, such as operating pilot and focused carbon-neutral schools (tentative name). They will spread excellent models and improve school environmental education-related systems to strengthen education on climate crisis response and carbon neutrality realization.

Programs targeting students, parents, and teachers will be developed and distributed. Utilizing affiliated institutions and organizations of the agreement partners, such as experience centers and science museums, they will support experiential education related to climate crisis and environmental ecology for students.

To achieve tangible results, the six ministries plan to form and operate a policy council quarterly. Department heads and working-level officials are expected to participate in the council. They will share tasks by ministry, education, and publicity efforts.

Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, said, "To realize carbon neutrality by 2050, changes must start from schools, education, and from an early age," adding, "For this, related ministries should fully utilize their expertise and work together."

Han Jeong-ae, Minister of Environment, said, "As the minister in charge of carbon neutrality policy, I feel a strong responsibility," and added, "We will do our best to strengthen climate and environmental education, including improving school environmental education systems and developing carbon-neutral content."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.