Seoul holds global summit aimed at tackling climate crisis in the post-COVID-19 era

기후환경회의, 코로나 위기로 탈바꿈하는 세계환경대책Today was the third day of the 'Cities Against COVID-19 Global Summit' in Seoul. The city has been discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with other major cities across the globe. Today's topic was the relationship between COVID-19 and climate change.Choi Won-jong has the details.With the use of multiple LED screens set up at Seoul City Hall, the so-called 'Cities Against COVID-19 Global Summit' got underway on Monday...and its main goal is to provide new solutions for climate change in the post-COVID-19 era.One of the main topics highlighted was the connection between climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.One expert said it is important to be prepared for another major virus pandemic in the future through 'ecological turn' - the interactions of humans, places, and the natural world.Taking this advice on board for the city of Seoul, Mayor Park Won-soon announced some new directions aimed at tackling the climate crisis."Such practices will be the key to creating a livable city for the socially and economically disadvantaged. Seoul will lead these changes through the ‘Green New Deal.'"Under the new policy, Seoul will impose strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions from public buildings, increase the number pedestrian walkways and strengthen green mobility like ‘Ddareungi - the city's shared bikes.Furthermore, by restoring the ecology of streams, public parks in the city will be preserved as a place for wildlife and people to both enjoy.Seoul will also continue its concentrated recycling efforts with the aim of producing zero domestic landfill waste."COVID-19 is a timely warning to us signaling that the climate crisis is threatening humankind ‘today,’ and not in ‘a distant future"’To flip the script from a green crisis to a green opportunity after the COVID-19 outbreak, Seoul will use the Green New Deal to urge citizens to help tackle climate change.Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.