Korea Takes the Lead: Joining Forces with the World to Achieve a Carbon Neutral Future
Governor Kim Tae-heum to Attend New York Climate Week and Under 2 Coalition Meeting
<img src="https://thesegye.com/news/data/20240922/p1065564654757334791thum.JPG” alt=”Governor Kim Tae-heum speaks at the Local Government Climate Action Summit session of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in Dubai in December last year.”/>
South Chungcheong Province, a special carbon-neutral economy province, is sharing Korea’s leading carbon-neutral policy with the world and seeking ways to expand cooperation with global climate leaders. Governor Kim Tae-heum will visit New York, USA for three nights and six days from the 21st to the 26th to attend the opening ceremony of New York Climate Week and the Under2 Coalition and Climate Group meeting and discussion.
New York Climate Week: An International Climate Event
New York Climate Week is an international climate event that discusses various issues related to climate change and seeks solutions. It is held by the Climate Group every September to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly. This year’s event will be held from the 22nd to the 29th with the theme of ‘It’s Time’, with the participation of organizations such as Climate Group, Under2Coalition, the Government of Quebec, Canada, and ICLEI.
Governor Kim’s Schedule
On the 22nd, Governor Kim will attend the New York Climate Week opening ceremony held at the New York Times Center. The opening ceremony will be attended by Michael Bloomberg, the UN Special Envoy for Climate Change and former New York City Mayor; Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group; and Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization.
On the 23rd, Governor Kim will participate in the △2030 Global Methane Reduction Strategy Discussion, △Under2Coalition Global High-Level Meeting, and △Climate Group Climate Leaders Reception. At the 2030 Global Methane Reduction Strategy Discussion hosted by the Climate Group, Governor Kim will deliver a keynote speech to introduce Chungnam’s methane reduction roadmap to the world.
Methane Reduction Strategy
In March, the province announced and is currently focusing on the ‘Methane Reduction Strategy’, which aims to reduce methane by 35% by 2030. The UNDER2 Alliance Global High-Level Meeting following the discussion will be attended by many UNDER2 Alliance co-chairs and local government representatives from around the world, including Asia-Pacific Regional Co-Chair Governor Kim.
Climate Leaders Breakfast Meeting
The first schedule on the fourth day of the visit to the U.S., the 24th, begins with a climate leaders breakfast meeting hosted by Bloomberg. Governor Kim and Special Envoy Bloomberg also met at the opening ceremony of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) Local Government Climate Action Summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in December last year.
High-Level Meeting of CHAMP
Following the meeting, Governor Kim will attend the high-level meeting of CHAMP (Coalition of Friendly Nations for Multi-Level Partnerships) and present examples of cooperation with governments to reduce greenhouse gases.
Local Government Leadership on Fossil Fuel Transition
The last stop on the U.S. itinerary is to attend the ‘Local Government Leadership on Fossil Fuel Transition’ event co-hosted by the Quebec government and BOGA (Boot and Gas Phase-out Alliance). At this event, Governor Kim emphasized the need to phase out fossil fuels through a keynote speech and discussed a joint declaration on phasing out fossil fuels and a just transition with attendees.
Climate Crisis: A Present Reality
“As can be seen from the repeated and continuous droughts, torrential downpours, and heat waves, the climate crisis is not the future but the present,” a provincial official said. “Through this business trip, Governor Kim will make Chungnam’s carbon-neutral policy known to the world and discuss global cooperation plans with representatives and experts from around the world.”