'2025 Clean Air International Forum' Opens... Kim Dongyeon Vows to Lead Climate Action with Lee Jaemyung Administration

Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, announced his intention to lead international climate action by sharing Gyeonggi's experience and data on climate crisis response-including climate insurance and RE100-with the Lee Jaemyung administration.

At the opening ceremony of the "2025 Clean Air International Forum" held at Suwon Gyeonggi Convergence Town on September 2, Governor Kim stated, "When we declared Gyeonggi RE100 in 2023, we promised to supply all energy from renewable sources at 28 affiliated public institutions through Public RE100 by early next year. We are moving ahead of schedule, and as early as the end of this year, the provincial government office and all public institutions will achieve RE100 by receiving renewable energy."

He continued, "To help residents internalize energy-saving practices in their daily lives, we have also introduced a climate action opportunity income. More than 1.5 million people have signed up for the app, and over the past year, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achieved through this initiative is said to be equivalent to planting about 2.45 million trees."

Governor Kim also shared updates on the current status of the climate satellite, climate insurance, and climate fund, which he had pledged at last year's Clean Air International Forum.

He explained, "We are on track to launch the Gyeonggi Climate Satellite by the end of November, making us the first metropolitan local government to do so. Gyeonggi Province has invested to expand renewable energy, companies utilize RE100, and residents benefit from the returns generated by the fund-creating a win-win-win effect. By the first half of this year, we completed the selection of candidate sites for power plants to establish the climate fund."

Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province (sixth from the left), is taking a commemorative photo after the ceremony at the "2025 Clean Air International Forum" held at the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation on the 2nd, along with Kang Geumsil, Climate Ambassador, Kim Siyong, Chair of the Urban Environment Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, Choi Jaechun, CEO of the Biodiversity Foundation, and Kim Seogyeong, Youth Climate Action activist. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

He added, "It has been four months since we implemented climate insurance, and we have paid out insurance claims for 6,500 cases to affected residents, 91% of whom were from climate-vulnerable groups. This serves as a health and safety net to reduce the climate gap between those who are well-prepared for the climate crisis and those who are not."

Governor Kim emphasized, "Over the past three years, while South Korea has taken regressive policies and measures regarding climate issues, Gyeonggi Province has steadfastly devoted all efforts to addressing the climate crisis. By sharing our experience and data on climate insurance, climate action, opportunity income, climate fund, and climate satellite with the central government and internationally, we will lead global climate action."

On this day, to commemorate Blue Sky Day, Gyeonggi Province held a performance involving key participants and future generations. Representatives from three friendly cooperative cities, three international organizations, expert groups, and generational representatives (the governor and a youth climate action activist who participated in the constitutional petition) sequentially transferred air contained in balloons into a transparent sphere, symbolically passing clean air to children.

The balloons contained clean air collected from four regions in Gyeonggi Province: Gonjiam-eup in Gwangju (eastern region), Bubal-eup in Icheon (southern region), Gwanggyo Central Park in Suwon (central region), and Sinwon-dong in Goyang (northern region).

This performance symbolically conveyed the message that "clean air is a valuable asset to be passed on to future generations" and underscored the importance of collective action to protect "blue skies and clean air."

This forum continues until September 3. On the second day, there will be a special session on reducing air pollutants (such as ozone) with participation from companies and public institutions, a congratulatory performance by La Classe, a special lecture by Yoon Sejong, CEO of Plan 1.5, on climate change, democracy, and youth climate litigation, and a fine dust photography exhibition by artist Han Kiae.

The Clean Air International Forum marks its seventh anniversary this year. Gyeonggi Province plans to continue expanding sustainable climate policies in cooperation with local governments in the Asia-Pacific respiratory community and the international community.

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