This paper aims to explore the prospect and challenges of environmental policy faced by Gyeonggi Province and to provide a future policy orientation to cope with them. A recent lift of the development ban on the ‘green belt’ area as well as devolu...
This paper aims to explore the prospect and challenges of environmental policy faced by Gyeonggi Province and to provide a future policy orientation to cope with them. A recent lift of the development ban on the ‘green belt’ area as well as devolution and the balanced national development policy are expected to double the development pressure in the region, while the growing public concern in the quality of life and amenity will create a high demand on the natural environment. Global environmental regimes such as Kyoto Protocol and WEEE will also influence the local environmental policy.
Drawing on the changing conditions of environmental policy at the national and local level, seven tasks to be addressed by Gyeonggi Province are suggested; ⅰ) introduction of the concept of regional environmental capacity and total maximum load system of air and water pollutants including minimum requirement of green space area, ⅱ) establishment of comprehensive environmental preservation plan and harmony of city planning and environmental planning, ⅲ) creation of a regional blue-green network along riverside, green space and the coast, ⅳ) a resource-circulating society building, ⅴ) establishment of green governance and conflict management system, ⅵ) construction of an eco-industrial complex, ⅶ) formulation of a climate protection program.
In conclusion, how to balance development and environmental conservation and to practice “sustainable development” in reality through an integrated pollution control and precautionary measures will be the biggest challenge in the region. It should also be emphasized that green governance based on partnership and participation among residents, business and local administration is an important way to create a better life and to secure sustainability in the long run.