Incheon City to Join 'Coal Phase-Out Alliance'... Ban on New Coal-Fired Power Facilities

by Park Haesook

Published 10 Nov.2020 16:43(KST)

Early Closure of Yeongheung Thermal Power Plant Expected to Have Impact

The "Climate Crisis Incheon Emergency Action" held a press conference in front of Incheon City Hall, urging the "gradual closure of Yeongheung Thermal Power Plant by 2030." 2020.9.8
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is joining the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's "Powering Past Coal Alliance" (PPCA).

The city announced on the 10th that it will hold a "Powering Past Coal Alliance Membership Declaration Ceremony" at G Tower in Songdo International City on the 26th.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance was launched at the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in 2017 and currently has a total of 111 member organizations, including 34 countries and 33 local governments worldwide.

In Korea, Incheon is the fourth city to join after Chungnam, Seoul, and Gyeonggi.

The alliance aims to phase out coal power, which is a major cause of climate change and air pollution, by 2030 for OECD and European Union member countries, and by 2050 for other countries.

Incheon City plans to use its membership in the alliance as an opportunity to ban the installation of new coal-fired power facilities and to actively promote the gradual transition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel and the decommissioning of existing facilities.

Incheon's joining of the Powering Past Coal Alliance is also expected to impact the operation of the Yeongheung Thermal Power Plant.

Built in 1994 on Yeongheung Island, Ongjin County, Incheon, the Yeongheung Thermal Power Plant accounts for 30% of Incheon City's total greenhouse gas emissions.

For this reason, the citizen environmental group "Climate Crisis Incheon Emergency Action" has been urging Incheon City to join the alliance and to gradually shut down the Yeongheung Thermal Power Plant by 2030.

Mayor Park Namchun also proposed the early closure of the Yeongheung Thermal Power Plant in line with the government's "2050 coal phase-out declaration" at the "Korean New Deal Strategy Meeting" chaired by President Moon Jae-in last month.

Mayor Park stated, "Incheon citizens are suffering significant harm and distress due to coal power, the main source of Incheon's greenhouse gas emissions," adding, "Through joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, we will actively pursue greenhouse gas reduction commitments and transition to eco-friendly energy."