A proposal has been made to establish an 'Integrated Climate, Energy, and Environment Intermediate Support Organization' to systematically support Jeonbuk's climate, energy, and environmental policies.

Jeonbuk Research Institute presented a plan for the establishment of a Jeonbuk-specific platform in response to the expected rapid implementation of energy transition policies following the establishment of the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment by the government, through its 331st issue briefing.

In the cases of Gyeonggi Province and Gyeongsangnam-do, the existing environmental support organizations that were previously operated separately were integrated into one through the establishment of the 'Gyeonggi Environmental Energy Promotion Agency' and the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Environmental Foundation'. This consolidation aims to strengthen the response capacity to climate and biodiversity crises, enhance private sector awareness and participation, provide support for education and training, promote environmental industry development, and enhance ecosystem services.

Since 1980, Jeonbuk has been operating the 'Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Natural Environment Training Institute', 'Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Sustainable Development Council', 'Jeonbuk Green Environment Support Center', 'Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Environmental Education Center', 'Jeonbuk Ecotourism Promotion Support Center', and 'Jeonbuk Carbon Neutrality Support Center', promoting initiatives for climate crisis response, carbon neutrality, environmental education, ecotourism development, and enhancing citizen participation.

However, concerns have been raised about the limitations in securing specialized personnel and financial stability due to individual operations, hindering the enhancement of the effectiveness of locally-led environmental policies.

Therefore, with the need for coordination and integration of the new government's climate, energy, and environmental policies, as well as the realization of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province as a 'Global Bioeconomy City', the necessity for the establishment of an integrated intermediate support organization dedicated to environmental issues in the private sector is growing.

Jeonbuk Research Institute has proposed a phased implementation plan, taking into account the differences in funding forms, locations, and managing departments of each organization.

In the first phase (foundation establishment), it is proposed to promote the necessity and feasibility study of establishing an integrated organization centered around the Jeonbuk Carbon Neutrality Support Center and induce the establishment of a consultative body to gather stakeholders' opinions.

In the second phase (integrated implementation), the plan includes adding functions for environmental impact assessment to the Jeonbuk Carbon Neutrality Support Center, assessing the financial support effects of integrating intermediate support organizations in the climate, energy, and environmental fields, discussing integrated facility and spatial plans, and proceeding with ordinance revisions.

In the third phase (establishment of intermediate support organization), a proposal is made to establish the Integrated Climate, Energy, and Environment Intermediate Support Organization, open an office, and promote the development of Jeonbuk-specific policies.

Kim Bo-guk, Senior Research Fellow in charge of the study, stated, "The establishment of an integrated intermediate support organization will serve as a unified platform for local residents and civil society to jointly respond to climate and biodiversity crises in the Jeonbuk region, promote participation and cooperation, and support environmental education."