Major universities in Seoul on Tuesday promised to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent of 2012 levels by 2017 in an agreement with the Seoul City government.

They also agreed to implement measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance education and campaigns to protect the environment. 

A total of 34 out of 42 four-year universities signed a memorandum of understanding with the metropolitan government for the green campus project. 

At the ceremony the schools adopted a joint declaration to fight climate change and launched a consultative group to share information and exchange human resources.

The city pledged to lend up to 2 billion won ($1.7 million) with a 2 percent interest rate to each school to help improve the energy efficiency and expand renewable energy use including solar power.

(rene@heraldcorp.com)