Seoul City and Autonomous Districts Form '2050 Carbon Neutral One Team'

Joint Response to the Climate Crisis Underway

On the 27th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will hold a ‘One Team’ launch ceremony to respond to the climate crisis and achieve carbon neutrality, together with 25 autonomous districts, the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Seoul and district Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committees, and about 300 citizens at the multipurpose hall on the 8th floor of Seoul City Hall.

Since 2007, Seoul has been proactively implementing policies to address climate change, including promoting a comprehensive climate change response plan and forming the Seoul Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee, among various policies aimed at creating a carbon-neutral city.

The city has established a consensus that everyone must unite to realize a carbon-neutral Seoul by 2050 with the autonomous districts, designating this year as the inaugural year for joint implementation of carbon neutrality. This launch ceremony was organized to reaffirm the joint commitment of the 25 autonomous districts to respond to the climate crisis and achieve carbon neutrality.

The event will proceed in the order of a joint resolution by the city and districts for carbon neutrality, declarations of commitment to action by each district, a keynote speech by Kim Sang-hyup, chairman of the 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee, and presentations of exemplary cases by the districts. At this occasion, Seoul and the districts will jointly resolve five key matters to fulfill their responsibilities in overcoming the climate crisis and realizing carbon neutrality.

First, Seoul and the districts have agreed to accelerate the transition to low-carbon buildings and reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation and energy sectors. Additionally, in response to the increasingly frequent climate disasters, they will develop Seoul into a city with high resilience and promote solidarity with climate-vulnerable groups.

To ensure that the joint resolution does not remain merely a declaration, carbon neutrality considerations will be incorporated into policies across all areas of city and district administration, and efforts will be made to secure funding for climate crisis response. The event will also feature presentations of outstanding carbon neutrality cases from the districts.

This event will be conducted as an eco-friendly event, with no printed materials; participants will access presentation materials by scanning QR codes on their mobile phones, biodegradable banners will be used within the venue, and previously used eco-friendly promotional signs (campaign placards) will be reused.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was elected as the operating committee member representing the region and as vice-chair of C40 by majority vote in the election held last January.

Lee In-geun, head of Seoul’s Climate and Environment Headquarters, stated, “Proactively and preemptively responding to climate change is the only way to protect the safety and property of both current and future generations from the climate crisis.” He added, “Considering that buildings, transportation, and waste account for 95% of greenhouse gas emissions in Seoul, voluntary climate action by citizens is essential. We ask all citizens to actively participate with ‘One Team Seoul’ to achieve carbon neutrality.”

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