Gwangmyeong City climate volunteer model adopted by national policy

Gwangmyeong City’s citizen-led climate initiative, the ‘1.5℃ Climate Volunteers,’ has become a foundational model for the South Korean government’s new ‘Climate Citizen’ movement. Launched in 2021, the program aims to move beyond administrative-led policies by empowering residents to take direct action against climate change.

As of August 2025, the program has grown to over 20,000 members who have completed approximately 2.36 million carbon-neutral actions. This collective effort is estimated to have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 1,042 tons, an impact comparable to planting 290,000 ten-year-old trees.

The success of the initiative is attributed to institutional support and economic incentives. The city enacted an ordinance in 2025 to provide a legal basis for citizen activities and implemented the ‘Climate Volunteer Carbon Savings Bank,’ which rewards participants with local currency points. Future plans include integrating electronic receipts to automate the certification process starting in October. The program also encompasses educational efforts, such as climate schools for youth and citizen-led solar power plants.