Jeollanam-do is making all-out efforts to bring the 33rd Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, COP 33) to the south-central region of the country’s South Coast.
Jeollanam-do held a meeting with private and public sector representatives of the region at Yeosu City Hall on June 2.
They discussed strategies and implementing tasks to reflect the provincial government’s proposal of hosting COP33 to the national agenda of the new government.
Among those on hand at the meeting were Jeollanam-do Gov. Kim Young-rok, Yeosu Mayor Jung Gi-myoung, and 11 representatives from Yeosu YMCA and Yeosu Council for Sustainable Development and other organizations.
COP33 is an international convention designed to tackle climate change issues, with 198 countries around the world participating. COP33 is scheduled to take place in the Asia-Pacific region in 2028.
If Korea discloses its intent to host COP33, the venue will be determined through consultation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Gov. Kim said, “Tidal flats and seaweeds are contributing to carbon neutrality by producing blue carbon, and offshore photovoltaic power farms and the blue carbon industry, using the resources, need to be connected with the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo.”
Yeosu City Becomes First Local Government to Engage in Direct Talks with UN on COP33
Yeosu City, under the leadership of Mayor Jung, attracted significant attention by becoming the first local government to directly engage with a UN agency regarding COP33 and other related issues.
According to Yeosu City on May 30, a city delegation led by Vice Mayor Choi Jeong-Gi visited the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Secretariat in Bonn, Germany, on May 28.
There, they engaged in in-depth discussions with officials on ways to cooperate for the bid to host COP 33, among other topics.
During the meeting, UNFCCC officials emphasized that “consultations among various regions (countries) are important” for hosting COP33.
They also advised that “meeting essential requirements such as venue composition, accommodation facilities, and public transportation infrastructure is necessary.”
In particular, the Global Climate Action team, tasked with strengthening public-private cooperation for COP, emphasized the crucial role of collaboration through international networks such as ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and GCoM (Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy).
Furthermore, they advised Yeosu City to actively participate in significant international events, including Panama Climate Week in May and the UNFCCC intersessional meeting scheduled for June.
Additionally, Yeosu City exchanged various perspectives with the UNFCCC on future cooperation directions to ensure the successful hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo.
Discussions covered official sponsorship for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, establishing a UNFCCC promotional booth during the Expo, and other areas for collaboration. The UNFCCC positively intended to review these proposals and promised to “conduct an internal review.”
Jeollanam-do Accelerates Efforts to Build Industrial Complex for Advanced Future Materials
Consultations on a master plan to designate a national industrial complex for advanced future materials in the Gwangyang Bay area, and a feasibility study, commissioned by the provincial government, found the necessary economic effects and feasibility to supply core materials for future industries, such as AI, bio, hydrogen car and space aviation.
According to the provincial government, the outcomes of the consultations indicated that if the industrial complex is established, it would induce production worth about 3,517.7 billion won, and creating added value worth 1,268.4 billion won.
In addition, 14,100 jobs would be created. The conclusion was that the internal rate of return (IRR) would stand at 4.88 percent and the benefit-cost ratio would be 1.055, enough to be implemented as a national project.
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