Gimhae City announced on August 20 that it will hold the 'You and Me Green Consumption' event on August 22 in collaboration with the Gyeongnam Green Purchase Support Center to promote the purchase of green products in celebration of Energy Day.
The event aims to provide citizens with information about green products and to spread an eco-friendly consumption culture.
It will take place in two sessions at the lobby of the Hwapocheon Wetland Science Center, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The main activities include finding green products in a supermarket, writing down practical methods for everyday life, spinning a green product roulette, and making insect mirror keychains.
The Hwapocheon Wetland Science Center, operated by the city's Environmental Policy Division, was chosen as the venue because the Gyeongnam Green Purchase Support Center, which is co-hosting the event, is located there.
Energy Day, which inspired this event, was established by the Citizens' Coalition for Energy in 2004, marking the day in 2003 when the highest electricity consumption in history was recorded at 47,385 MW on August 22.
Participation does not require prior registration; visitors to the science center can join on-site. There are no fees or age restrictions.
However, since the event falls on a Saturday, citizens planning to attend should first make a reservation to visit the science center. It is essential to confirm the separate registration process for the event and the weekend visit to the science center.
The law promoting the purchase of green products mandates that public institutions must purchase green products when available.
Heads of public institutions are required to establish and announce their green product purchase implementation plans within two months of the start of each fiscal year.
Gimhae City's 2026 purchase implementation plan is published on the Climate Energy Environment Ministry's website and the city's official website. As of August 20, the city reported a green product purchase rate of 29.7%. This figure is subject to change as it is a mid-year tally and may differ from the final results at year-end.
Regarding last year's performance, a city official stated, "We met the government's joint evaluation target, but it was slightly below our self-imposed purchase implementation plan." This indicates that while the legal evaluation criteria were met, the city did not reach its own goals.
Gimhae City also has a separate ordinance promoting the purchase of green products under Article 11 of the same law.
Additionally, this event for citizens is not a regular occurrence. A city official noted, "There are no plans for future events, and it seems this will be a one-time event this year."
How this four-hour campaign connects to the fundamental goal of spreading a culture of green consumption remains a challenge for the future.
The official expressed hope that the event would provide families with a meaningful opportunity to understand the significance of green consumption and learn practical methods for everyday life, adding, "We will continue to create more diverse opportunities for citizens to practice green consumption in their daily lives starting from this event."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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