[The Hwankyung Ilbo] The Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Education Center said that a total of 55 applications for the designation of excellent environmental education programs were submitted in the first half of 2021, including the "blue sky without fine dust" program.

In order to convert to a 2050 carbon-neutral society and revitalize environmental education, we provide excellent environmental education programs, and based on this, we are operating a designation system to raise citizens' awareness and expand practice.

The "Excellent Environmental Education Program Designation System" provides designation by forming a subcommittee of 10 experts (seven environmental education experts and three marine environmental education experts) to provide reliable and excellent environmental education programs to the public.

In addition, the on-site inspection of the support group confirms the adequacy and environment-friendliness of the educational environment at the site, and provides excellent programs that are safe and qualitatively guaranteed to the public through this. The on-site inspection was conducted in a safe situation, including disinfection of educational sites and wearing masks related to the current coronavirus situation. 

If designated as an excellent environmental education program, various benefits such as the designation of the name of the environment minister as well as: media reporting and public relations support, environmental education training program, additional points for supporting environmental experience education program, and payment of new institutions.

Applications for excellent environmental education programs in the second half of the year can be made by September 3rd (Friday), and non-face-to-face excellent environmental education programs will also be designated to cope with the learning vacuum due to the prolonged coronavirus. Non-face-to-face education operation can be operated as a program suitable for institutions such as real-time interactive classes, content utilization-oriented classes, and task performance-oriented classes.

Information on excellent environmental education programs designated by the Ministry of Environment can be found on the Environmental Education portal site, and the National Environmental Education Center's designated secretariat provides free online and offline consulting services to institutions and organizations seeking designated programs.

Lee Jae-young, head of the National Center for Environmental Education, said, "We will work hard to revitalize environmental education and provide reliable and safe programs to people of all ages to overcome the environmental crisis and transform to a carbon-neutral society."