Environment ministry names 10 new environmental education cities

The environment ministry said it has selected 10 local governments as environmental education cities for 2026, a designation that brings expert consulting and a national platform for their programs but no central government funding.

Three metropolitan governments — Busan, Sejong and Jeju — and seven basic local governments — Nowon, Suwon, Ansan, Siheung, Gwangmyeong, Cheonan and Tongyeong — were chosen from 21 applicants, a competition of roughly two to one.

The designations run from Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2029. Seven of the 10 — Busan, Jeju, Suwon, Ansan, Siheung, Gwangmyeong and Tongyeong — are returning after their previous terms, recognized for building locally tailored programs and drawing on regional resources.

The program, introduced in 2022, designates local governments with strong environmental education plans and track records, and this year's selections bring the total to 22, following six in 2024 and six in 2025.

Applications were assessed on their education infrastructure, results to date and the quality of their plans, with experts conducting document and on-site reviews ahead of a deliberation by the environmental education committee.

Specialties vary by region. Busan will pursue marine-focused education backed by science museums and its international environmental film festival, Sejong mandatory environmental training for civil servants and citizen scientists, and Jeju geology-based programs on its gotjawal forests and oreum cones alongside its 2040 Plastic Zero Island Jeju initiative.

Among the basic governments, Nowon will run integrated programs linked to local facilities, Suwon will draw on government-industry-academia cooperation and its four rivers and Hwaseong Fortress, and Ansan will focus on industrial-complex climate education and its plastic-free village model. Siheung will build programs around Sihwa Lake and a mandatory climate education requirement for public-sector staff, Gwangmyeong will let citizen study groups lead its planning, Cheonan will link regional festivals and ecological experience sites, and Tongyeong will target fishing communities with mandatory education for fishery workers and a fishing license system.

During the designation period the ministry plans to offer expert consulting and chances for the cities to cooperate with one another, and to spread exemplary cases nationwide through forums. It also said it will work to secure budget for central government support.

Such subsidies, about 100 million won ($74,783) per local government a year, were paid through 2023 but have not been provided since 2024.

"Environmental education cities raise citizens' capacity to act on the climate crisis through education and encourage community participation," said Kim Tae-hoon, who leads the ministry's climate, energy and environment education team. "I hope the designations become an opportunity to realize a region-centered, decarbonized green society."