Chungnam Province announced on the 30th that it received a "Highly Excellent" rating for the second consecutive year in the evaluation of the second year (2023) implementation of the 3rd Climate Crisis Adaptation Plan (2022-2026).

Climate crisis adaptation refers to all activities aimed at minimizing or turning the effects of the current or expected future climate crisis into beneficial opportunities.

The province is conducting annual implementation evaluations for the detailed action plan, which includes 100 climate crisis adaptation tasks across seven sectors such as water management and ecosystems. The results are reviewed and approved by the Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee.

In the second year evaluation, a total of 94 adaptation measures were assessed, achieving a 99% goal attainment rate, 97% budget execution rate, and 100% project implementation rate.

Key achievements by sector include: △ Water Management: improving water quality and restoring hydraulic facilities during heavy rain, securing water sources during droughts △ Forestry and Ecosystems: increasing carbon absorption by discovering and restoring climate-resilient tree species △ Land and Coast: restoring areas damaged by heavy rains and inspecting the safety of roads and other infrastructure △ Agriculture and Fisheries: enhancing pest control capabilities for crops and reducing damage to livestock and fisheries from extreme weather △ Health: running heatwave response programs for outdoor workers △ Industry and Energy: easing the burden on residents by supporting heating costs for vulnerable groups and reducing city gas fees for small businesses.

A standout example is the project by the provincial agricultural research institute for the development of superior and new rice varieties unique to Chungnam.

The Agricultural Research and Extension Services have developed ‘Ppareumi 2’ and ‘Ppareumihyang,’ the first early-maturing glutinous rice varieties in Korea. Both varieties have a heading date in late June, which is about 20 days earlier than traditional glutinous rice. This results in reduced agricultural water usage and shorter flooding periods, significantly enhancing methane reduction.

Additionally, notable efforts to elevate the province's standing include attending the Asia Action Summit organized by the Climate Group and the Seoul Climate Leadership Conference chaired by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, demonstrating leadership in carbon reduction as the Under2 Coalition's Asia-Pacific chair.

Additionally, notable examples include the hosting of the 2023 Carbon Neutral International Conference with participation from 14 countries, including the UK, France, Australia, India, and China. This also involves sharing carbon neutrality policies with major countries through attendance at COP28 and the Under2 Coalition General Assembly, enhancing international cooperation on climate crisis response.

Moving forward, the province plans to incorporate the results of the second-year (2023) implementation review of the Third Climate Crisis Adaptation Plan into the third-year (2024) implementation plan for continuous improvement.

Koo Sang, Director of the Provincial Climate and Environment Bureau, stated, “Given the expected abnormal high temperatures this summer due to the climate crisis, we will proactively support vulnerable groups to mitigate residents’ damage. We will do our best to promote leading carbon neutrality policies and advance a sustainable future.”

Contact: Climate Change Measures Team, Climate and Environmental Policy Division

Phone: 041-635-4418