ID :
209977
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 12:57
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209977
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Gwangju shares its environment policies with foreign cities
GWANGJU, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- The Gwangju metropolitan government is pushing ahead with a project to sign an agreement to export its unique environmental policies to major international cities next month when the southwestern city hosts a global urban environment summit, local officials said Wednesday.
The city of Gwangju hopes it will sign the memorandum of understanding with nine different cities, including San Antonio of the United States and Maputo of Mozambique, during the 2011 Gwangju Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords (UEA) that will be held in Gwangju, about 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul, from Oct. 11-13.
Under the deal, partner cities are expected to express interest in Gwangju's so-called "carbon bank" policy.
Enacted in 2008 by the Gwangju regional government, this unique policy provides households with points for reducing carbon emissions that can be exchanged for cash. The government awards carbon points based on the amount of a household's monthly reductions in electricity, gas and water usage. Nearly half of the households in Gwangju were participating in the program as of August.
"Gwangju's environment policies are so unique that other international cities can use them as a benchmark," said Shin Kwang-jo, the chief planner of the summit. "When the agreement is reached, Gwangju will turn over a new leaf and become a human-centered eco-city."
Also, the agreement calls for a broad exchange of information on future eco-friendly industries, the construction of an eco-friendly "energy town" to prepare for global climate change and the establishment of a cultural program between Gwangju and counterpart cities.
Signed in June 2005 by mayors from 52 cities to celebrate World Environment Day, the UEA has emerged as a hallmark of urban leadership efforts to address the wide range of environmental issues facing cities, including carbon emissions.
With the pre-registration rate for participation in the event reaching 50 percent, the summit is expected to become the single biggest international event that the local municipal government has ever held, Gwangju municipal government officials said.
The city of Gwangju hopes it will sign the memorandum of understanding with nine different cities, including San Antonio of the United States and Maputo of Mozambique, during the 2011 Gwangju Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords (UEA) that will be held in Gwangju, about 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul, from Oct. 11-13.
Under the deal, partner cities are expected to express interest in Gwangju's so-called "carbon bank" policy.
Enacted in 2008 by the Gwangju regional government, this unique policy provides households with points for reducing carbon emissions that can be exchanged for cash. The government awards carbon points based on the amount of a household's monthly reductions in electricity, gas and water usage. Nearly half of the households in Gwangju were participating in the program as of August.
"Gwangju's environment policies are so unique that other international cities can use them as a benchmark," said Shin Kwang-jo, the chief planner of the summit. "When the agreement is reached, Gwangju will turn over a new leaf and become a human-centered eco-city."
Also, the agreement calls for a broad exchange of information on future eco-friendly industries, the construction of an eco-friendly "energy town" to prepare for global climate change and the establishment of a cultural program between Gwangju and counterpart cities.
Signed in June 2005 by mayors from 52 cities to celebrate World Environment Day, the UEA has emerged as a hallmark of urban leadership efforts to address the wide range of environmental issues facing cities, including carbon emissions.
With the pre-registration rate for participation in the event reaching 50 percent, the summit is expected to become the single biggest international event that the local municipal government has ever held, Gwangju municipal government officials said.
