Haenam County officials visited central government ministries on August 6 to advocate for securing national funding.
Mayor Myung Hyun-kwan and county officials met with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to request government support for pressing issues, including the establishment of the National Agricultural Climate Change Center.
During their visit to the Ministry of Agriculture, the county emphasized the urgent need for support in establishing and operating the National Agricultural Climate Change Center in Haenam, particularly in light of this year's prolonged heatwave and the worsening climate crisis over recent years.
Mayor Myung stated, "The increasing frequency of extreme weather events is having the most significant impact on agriculture and fisheries. We need to activate the National Agricultural Climate Change Center as a control tower for climate change response and operate it as a national-level response organization."
The National Agricultural Climate Change Center is set to begin construction in the second half of this year, with completion expected in the first half of 2029. It is being expedited compared to other public projects due to the urgency of climate change response. The center will serve as a key institution overseeing the establishment of national strategies for climate change response, impact prediction, and the development of response technologies in the agricultural sector.
Mayor Myung added, "In just 2 to 3 years, climate change has progressed to a level that poses a significant crisis for agriculture and fisheries. For the center to fulfill its role as a control tower, it is essential that it operates under the National Agricultural Climate Response Headquarters, which should be established under the Ministry of Agriculture to oversee policy coordination."
On August 4, a bill titled 'Law on Climate Crisis Response and Carbon Neutrality Implementation in Agriculture and Rural Areas' was jointly proposed by 13 lawmakers, including Im Mi-ae, Park Ji-won, Lee Gae-ho, Jo Gye-won, and Moon Geum-joo. The bill includes provisions for establishing the 'National Agricultural Climate Response Headquarters' under the Ministry of Agriculture to oversee and coordinate related policies, with plans to house the headquarters in the center to integrate climate change research, technology development, and policy coordination.
Following this, Mayor Myung visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to request that the location of the Haenam Interchange (IC) on the Wando (via Haenam) to Gangjin highway be adjusted closer to Haenam County. He also urged for the expansion of National Route 18 from the Haenam Songun Intersection to the Gangjin Gyeora Intersection to be pursued in conjunction with the highway construction.
During the visit to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the county proposed that the planned Green Convergence Cluster and Carbon Neutral Education Center in Haenam be promoted as national projects with full funding from the national government. The county aims to develop the Green Convergence Cluster as a key hub for research and development in the climate and environment sector, fostering new carbon-neutral industries in South Korea. The Carbon Neutral Education Center is envisioned as a representative space for education and experiences to enhance climate crisis response capabilities and promote a culture of carbon neutrality.
Consequently, the county is requesting that the entire project cost be covered by national funding, as it is a project requiring a national-level response to climate change and carbon neutrality.
Mayor Myung Hyun-kwan stated, "Addressing the agricultural crisis caused by climate change, expanding transportation networks, and establishing a carbon-neutral foundation are essential tasks that must be resolved to improve the quality of life for our residents and secure Haenam's future competitiveness. We will continue to work closely with the central government and Congressman Park Ji-won, as well as the Jeonnam Gwangju Special City, to secure national funding for local projects without any setbacks."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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