Gyeongnam Province's environmental policies achieve only 51% success rate

Gyeongnam Province's environmental conservation policies over the last decade have fallen short of their goals, achieving only a 51.1% target completion rate. The province revealed these findings during a final report meeting for the 'Gyeongnam Province Environmental Plan (2026-2040) Establishment Research Service.'

The evaluation covered 45 indicators across four sectors: natural ecology, living environment, resilience, and environmental justice. While some indicators, such as indoor air quality improvement in multi-use facilities and odor monitoring systems, showed high achievement rates, others like designation of lighting environment management areas and wetland restoration lagged significantly.

In response to these results and public opinion, Gyeongnam Province is formulating a new 15-year environmental plan. This plan aims to create a 'sustainable and safe Gyeongnam where nature and people coexist.' It will integrate findings from a survey of approximately 1,600 residents regarding their environmental awareness and concerns.

Public concerns identified in the survey include insufficient response to the climate crisis, river and water pollution, and waste management. Residents prioritized policies such as curbing indiscriminate development, maintaining pleasant landscapes, expanding urban green spaces, and increasing renewable energy. The new plan is expected to be finalized and announced around October, following review and approval processes.