KOREAN NET

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has named the program Climate Action Opportunity Income of Gyeonggi-do Province as a public sector innovation case for 2026. Shown is the program's app that offers a small discount if a customer orders coffee at a cafe using a reusable tumbler. (Gyeonggi-do Province)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

The Climate Action Opportunity Income, a leading eco-friendly program of Gyeonggi-do Province, is one of this year's public sector innovation cases of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The province on March 18 said the initiative offers incentives in regional currencies to residents who participate in activities that lower carbon emissions in daily life, with the number of participants in the program reaching 1.84 million.

Sixteen carbon-friendly actions like installation of solar panels at home, use of public transportation and reusable containers, and walking are recorded and tracked by an app. A user can earn points worth up to KRW 60,000 per year.

In 2011, the OECD launched the Observatory of Public Sector Innovation to find public sector innovations to share with the world.

The province said, "The inclusion of our civic participatory policy toward climate in the OECD casebook signifies global recognition of Gyeonggi-do's innovative policy model, not just by the province and Korea."

aisylu@korea.kr