Gyeonggi-do, Host Local Government of ICLEI KO,

Has Announced ‘Gyeonggi RE100 Vision’

At the end of last year, Gyeonggi-do(province) has been selected as the host local government for ICLEI Korea from 2023 to 2027. As the head of the host local government, Governor Dong-yeon Kim was appointed to the member of the Global Executive Committee for the 2021-2024 term. Gino Van Vegin, Secretary General of ICLEI, expressed expectation by saying, “I am excited to have Governor Kim represent the ICLEI East Asia region on our global governance body, and look forward to leverage on his experience and leadership to build on the strength of our global representative body.”

As if the province tried to meet ICLEI’s expectations, Gyeonggi-do held a declaration ceremony for the 'Gyeonggi RE100 Vision' in April 2023. The RE100 is a global campaign to cover 100% of energy usage with renewable energy to overcome the climate crisis. To realize this vision, which aims to expand renewable energy facilities to 9 GW by 2026, public institutions in Gyeonggi-do have committed to using 100% renewable energy. Through this initiative, Gyeonggi-do plans to increase the proportion of renewable energy generation from 5.8% in 2021 to 30% in 2030 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%.

On April 24, Gyeonggi Governor Dong-yeon Kim and Climate Ambassador Geum-sil Kang are holding a ceremony to declare Gyeonggi RE100.

The Gyeonggi RE100 vision mirrors Gyeonggi-do's bold climate crisis response under the slogan "Turn Today's Climate Crisis into Tomorrow's Growth Opportunity." Gyeonggi-do has outlined practical measures in 13 tasks in four areas of public service, business, citizen and industry to achieve the Gyeonggi RE100 vision.

First of all, in the public sector, Gyeonggi-do said it has a plan to search for installation sites, including public institutions, government offices and idle land to install solar power generation equipment on the rooftops and parking lots. By doing so, it will convert the electricity consumption to renewable energy.

In terms of the industrial and corporate sectors, Gyeonggi-do plans to allocate the supply of renewable energy to newly established industrial complexes having plans for introducing renewable energy, and promote private-public cooperation roof-type solar power generation projects on the roofs of existing industrial complexes.

Last but not least, Gyeonggi-do plans to implement policies that connect renewable energy generation to citizens' income to expand citizens' participation. Gyeonggi-do’s plan contains to promote RE100 points, which provide financial incentives for the performances that generate social value but are not adequately paid back in the market. The efforts to overcome the climate crisis are viewed as an essential social value that generates such income opportunities.

Along with this, Gyeonggi-do endeavors to save energy by replacing lights in public institutions with LEDs, strengthening insulation of windows and doors and using high-efficiency equipment. At the vision declaration ceremony, Gyeonggi-do Climate Ambassador and 40 Gyeonggi-do Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee members were appointed to push ahead the Gyeonggi RE100 vision. Geumsil Kang, who is the current CEO of Law Firm One and former Minister of Justice (2003~2004), was designated as the Climate Ambassador of Gyeonggi-do.

As Gyeonggi-do is willing to strengthen its cooperation with other provincial governments, cities and counties regarding sharing experiences and challenges to tackle climate issues, Ambassador Kang is expected to play a role as a bridge between local governments in the international community and Gyeonggi-do by sharing climate policies and resolving difficult matters in addition to carbon neutral policy advice.

Governor Dong-yeon Kim of Gyeonggi-do has appointed Geumsil Kang as Climate Ambassador.

ICLEI Korea is happy to see the host local government displays enthusiasm for corresponding to climate change, which in turn, lead to accomplish the SDGs. This could not be more timely or relevant for Gyeonggi-do to pool the collective wisdom to take climate action because we are witnessing threats of climate crisis to all lives on earth like never before. Widespread and enormous impacts of climate change, longer lasting droughts, more intense storms, and rising sea level, increasing number of species under biodiversity crisis and exacerbating existing inequities, has already started to affect our lives.
ICLEI Korea will continue supporting Gyeonggi-do with capacity building and knowledge sharing so that the host local government of ICLEI Korea could realize its RE100 vision.

*photo: governor.gg.go.kr/photogalley/?pageid=2&mod=document&uid=14348