Kim Dong-yeon: "We Will Create a Gyeonggi-do Type Climate Change Response Model"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is taking a commemorative photo with participants at the '2023 Clean Air International Forum,' which opened on the 5th.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, "We will create a good model that enables the central government and other local governments to follow Gyeonggi Province in responding to climate change."

Governor Kim made these remarks in his opening address at the '2023 Clean Air International Forum' held on the 5th at the Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency in Gwanggyo, Suwon. He said, "Gyeonggi Province has been conducting joint research on metropolitan air quality improvement policies with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the past 15 years and is making efforts in various aspects."

He continued, "Gyeonggi Province is implementing various eco-friendly policies such as the Gyeonggi RE100 platform, banning disposable cups within government offices, and offering a 50% discount on tolls for eco-friendly vehicles. South Korea has a lot to actively do in responding to climate change. Gyeonggi Province will take the lead and create a good model that the central government and other local governments can follow," he promised.

The Clean Air International Forum is an annual event held since 2018 to address transboundary air pollution. This year's theme is 'Together For Clean Air.'

Gyeonggi Province is conducting the forum in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), timed to coincide with the UN-designated International Day of Clean Air for blue skies (September 7).

Promoted as an international forum involving residents, this forum was attended by over 200 participants from five countries, including domestic and international environmental experts, international organization officials, Asia-Pacific governments, academia, and residents.

Keynote speaker and Gyeonggi Province Climate Ambassador Kang Geum-sil addressed "Inequality in Air Pollution and Climate Crisis," emphasizing that "89% of premature deaths caused by air pollution occur in low- and middle-income countries, and the carbon emissions of the top three emitting regions are 16 times those of the 100 lowest emitting countries," stressing the need to alleviate national and social inequalities related to air pollution and the climate crisis.

The second keynote speaker, Professor Kim Sang-woo of Seoul National University's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, stated, "Fine particulate matter and ozone reflect sunlight, cooling the earth's surface, whereas black carbon from fossil fuels absorbs sunlight, raising atmospheric temperatures," highlighting the 'two sides of the same coin' effect of air pollution on climate change and the need for continuous research.

Following this, former Director of the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences Cho Cheon-ho delivered a special lecture titled "The Story of Coexistence Between Humans and the Earth" and engaged in a dialogue with the audience.

In the expert and resident empathy talk "Fine Dust Empathy Talk," panelists including Belgian-born broadcaster and European Union Climate Action Goodwill Ambassador Julian Quintart, Cha Seong-su, Director of Gyeonggi Province Climate Environment and Energy Bureau, Professor Cho Yong-min of Seokyeong University's Department of Nano Chemical and Biological Engineering, Park Hee-jae, Director of Siheung Green Environment Support Center, and Kim Hee-ra, a member of Gyeonggi Province's private fine dust response practice group, exchanged views on Gyeonggi Province's air quality status, fine dust reduction policies, the impact of fine dust, fine dust reduction technologies in daily life, and directions for citizens' climate change response practices.

Meanwhile, on the second day, the 6th, three sessions will be held: ▲ Urban air pollutant management (research on air status and improvement in Northeast Asia regions) ▲ Air pollution and carbon neutrality (presentations and panel discussions on the correlation between air pollutants and greenhouse gases and carbon neutrality policies) ▲ Air pollution management technology and data analysis techniques (presentations and panel discussions on integrated ultrafine dust management strategies in Northeast Asia).

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