New integrated platform unites climate citizen pledges, actions and rewards
Online declaration earns 1,000 points, first climate action adds 1,000 more
The government is launching a "climate citizen declaration" campaign to encourage individuals to adopt carbon-neutral lifestyles. It plans to secure pledges of "climate action" from 10 million citizens by next year.
The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy said Wednesday that it will launch an integrated "Korea Climate Action" platform, linked to the carbon-neutrality points website, on Thursday, as part of its "10 Million Climate Citizens" movement.
The government aims to expand the number of citizens who declare themselves "climate citizens" and pledge to practice 10 climate actions — to 3 million this year and 10 million by next year.
The 10 climate actions are: cutting carbon emissions to protect the planet; generating electricity from sunlight and wind; walking or biking for short trips; using public transportation and switching to electric vehicles; electrifying heating and hot water systems in buildings; reducing plastic use and boosting resource recycling; planting trees and coexisting with nature; protecting water and air; preparing only as much food as needed to cut down on waste; and building sustainable communities with neighbors.
The ministry will give 1,000 carbon-neutrality points to anyone who joins the climate citizen declaration by the end of this year. Citizens can earn another 1,000 points by taking additional carbon-neutrality point-eligible actions, such as bringing a personal cup to a cafe or purchasing eco-friendly products.
Each month, the ministry will highlight a priority climate action, starting with bicycling in October. Changwon already awards 100 carbon-neutrality points per kilometer for riding public shared bicycles, and the ministry plans to expand the program to other regions.
Those who take the pledge receive a personalized "climate citizen certificate" online, which they can check on the website or through a mobile app. The platform also links to each citizen's climate action history, allowing them to track outcomes such as their greenhouse gas reductions.
Citizens can earn up to 70,000 won ($52) a year in carbon-neutrality points through climate actions, which can be used like cash or donated. The ministry is also considering converting the points into local currency.
Kim Sung-hwan, minister of climate, environment and energy, said, "The climate crisis cannot be solved by the government or any single sector alone — change across society can only come when each citizen's everyday actions come together." He added, "We will operate the 'Korea Climate Action' integrated platform so that it becomes a public square for climate action, where anyone can easily participate, check their own small contributions and act together with others."
thlee@heraldcorp.com
