Busan City in South Korea has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and practice carbon-neutral living in the public sector, with the aim of becoming a “2050 Carbon Neutral Leading City.” The city has expanded its “Emissions Trading System and Greenhouse Gas and Energy Target Management System” to include invested and acting organizations, in addition to administrative agencies and public corporations.
There are 19 invested and funded organizations in Busan, including the Busan Research Institute, Busan Economic Promotion Agency, Busan Medical Center, Cinema Center, Busan Cultural Center, and BEXCO, which will also be part of the initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, the city and six public and private corporations will actively promote carbon-neutral living among employees.
The city and 25 public institutions will carry out reduction projects, including expanding the use of renewable energy such as solar power, purchasing eco-friendly vehicles, and replacing high-efficiency appliances such as LEDs. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions in daily life, the city will also conduct carbon neutrality education for employees, maintain the right temperature in the office, use multi-use cups, use public transportation, and hold paperless meetings.
To spread the carbon-neutral culture and ensure that this policy is well established, Busan City will develop a carbon neutrality pledge and practice movement by institution. The city will also inspect the operation of greenhouse gas reduction and provide incentives such as commendations to organizations that are leading the way in this initiative.
Head of the Environmental and Water Policy Office of Busan City, Lee Geun-hee, expressed his hope that this policy will bring Busan closer to becoming a carbon-neutral leading city. He stated, “As carbon neutrality is a task that can only be achieved by everyone together, we will continue to spread the movement so that the practice of carbon neutrality in daily life can be settled in citizens and companies.”
