Mayor Min Gyeongseon: "Climate Crisis Response Starts with Citizens' Daily Lives"... Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions 36% by 2030

Goyang Strengthens Response to Climate Disasters in Daily Life, Including Heat Waves and Lovebugs

Pursuing 105 Projects Centered on Carbon Neutrality Support Center

Achieves 98% of 2025 Emissions Reduction Target

Runs “Climate and Environment School” for All Life Stages

Ramps Up Citizen-Participation Carbon Neutrality Policies

"Climate disasters that threaten our daily lives have, paradoxically, begun in our everyday routines. Through climate measures closely tied to daily life and proactive environmental education, we will encourage citizens to adopt eco-friendly practices and create a more pleasant city."

Goyang Special City Mayor Min Kyung-sun, who expressed his commitment to advancing carbon-neutral policies closely connected to everyday life. Photo provided by Goyang City.

Min Gyeongseon, mayor of Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province, said he was committed to accelerating carbon-neutral policies closely connected to citizens' daily lives in response to the climate crisis.

Goyang City said on October 15 that it is pursuing both short-term measures to reduce public inconvenience caused by climate change, including heat waves and lovebugs, and medium- to long-term policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The city has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 36% from 2018 levels by 2030 and is pursuing 105 detailed projects across five sectors, including buildings, transportation, and waste.

To respond to this summer's record-breaking heat wave, the city expanded its use of “Cooling and Clean Road,” which sprays water onto roads, and water-spraying trucks. It focused on lowering the temperature of heat-baked roads to mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce fine dust.

"Cooling and Clean Road," which sprays water onto roads to cool them. Provided by Goyang City.

The city also stepped up eco-friendly pest control to reduce public inconvenience caused by the large-scale emergence of lovebugs. In May 2026, it sprayed microbial agents over approximately 5,000 square meters in the Jeongbalsan area and continued on-site response efforts during the adult emergence period.

Carbon-neutral policies are also producing concrete results.

In accordance with the First Basic Plan for Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth of Goyang Special City, established last year, the city is implementing greenhouse gas reduction projects in stages.

The first implementation review, conducted this year, found that the city had reduced emissions by 1,048,000 metric tons, approximately 98% of its 2025 target of 1,067,000 metric tons.

The Carbon Neutrality Support Center, which has been operating since 2023, plays a key role in connecting citizens, experts, and the administration. The city is expanding public participation through programs including a citizen idea contest, a citizen participation group, and a junk art program using discarded toys.

“Seed Climate and Environment School” for young children. Provided by Goyang City.

The city is also strengthening environmental education. It runs the Climate and Environment School, which provides age-appropriate education throughout life, from early childhood through adulthood.

Programs tailored to different age groups include the Seed Climate and Environment School for young children, the Sprout Climate and Environment School for elementary school students, the Tree Climate and Environment School for teenagers, and the Climate and Environment School for adults. They teach carbon-neutral activities that participants can practice in their daily lives.

This year, the adult Climate and Environment School held six in-person lectures for citizens and public officials under the theme “Our Transition in the Age of the Climate Crisis.”

The city is also working to train nature interpreters and environmental activists, supporting the spread of environmental education throughout the community.

At an event in September 2026 commemorating Resource Circulation Day, Mayor Min Gyeongseon also expressed his commitment to expanding renewable energy and promoting efforts to eliminate plastic.

Opening ceremony for the 2026 Goyang City Climate and Environment School for adults. Provided by Goyang City.

Goyang City plans to increase its carbon-neutrality budget and link environmental education that encourages citizen participation with greenhouse gas reduction projects to improve the effectiveness of its climate crisis response policies.

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