Korea to Decrease CO2 Emissions with the ‘Act on Climate Change’
Korea’s rapid industrialization can be felt everywhere, from the coastal landscapes, which are dotted with factories, to the large cities–Seoul, Busan, and Daegu–which often have air quality so poor that skylines are swallowed in smog.
Now, the outgoing government of Korea has passed new legislation to combat this pollution and join in the international battle against climate change.
The aptly named “Act on Climate Change” will establish an emissions trading market, raise the bar for renewable energy, assist in reducing industrial, home, and vehicle emissions, and increase carbon capture.
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Carbon trading
By 2009, Korea plans to have set up a voluntary emissions trading agency and a carbon trading market.
On the one hand, though participation will not be mandatory, companies will be rewarded for reducing their energy demands. On the other hand, the government says it will supply extra incentive for businesses to moderate their greenhouse gases with a carbon tax.
A national target for emissions reductions should be announced sometime later in the year, before the carbon trading scheme comes into effect. A tentative goal for reduction of industrial CO2 pollution is 3.2% of 2005 levels by 2012 (1.8 million tonnes).
Renewable energy
Currently, just 2.3% of Korea’s energy is generated renewably. The Act on Climate Change will increase that figure to 5% by 2012 and 9% by 2030. As part of this initiative Korea is also considering expanding its nuclear power programme.
Biodeisel–mostly from palm oil–will also be mixed into fuel in increased quantities, from 0.5% in 2007 to 3% in 2012. An initial increase of up to 5% was proposed, but not adopted. Palm biodeisel has its own environmental dark side, but a new regulatory body has been established in Malaysia to help ensure its sustainability, as discussed here.
The plan is not quite as visionary, perhaps, as some renewable energy research being done in Germany, but Korea is absolutely making good progress.
Residential greenhouse gas emissions
So many Koreans live in large apartment towers–often owned by one of the country’s mega-corporations, like Hyundai–that the government has focused on these buildings as a good place to reduce residential CO2 pollution. The goal: a 2.5 million tonne reduction by 2012 for large-scale residencies and industrial complexes.
Vehicle greenhouse gas emissions
South Korea has such a phenomenal transportation infrastructure of buses, trains and cheap taxis that it’s a wonder anyone drives at all.
To moderate vehicle emissions, new vehicle regulations will be put in place and less polluting vehicles promoted. In this way, as much as 600,000 additional tonnes of CO2 emissions will be prevented.
7,920 hybrid cars, 1,750 fuel cell vehicles, and 13,080 natural gas buses and cleaning vehicles will have hit the roadways by 2012.
Carbon sink
Lastly, Korea is set to bring out the big guns: Korean pride in the country’s natural beauty.
Through forestation efforts, Korea hopes to absorb as much as 12 million tonnes of CO2. Trees will be planted on open land, in cities, and around schools.
In addition to all this, there are also plans to establish a foundation for more environmentally friendly agriculture and to recover methane generated from landfills.
Via: Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea
Related reading: Europe Gets Tougher On Heavy Co2 Emitters
Photo: Martin Connelly at Flickr by permission, under a Creative Commons license
Hi Gavin,
I am most fascinated by the amount of co2 that can be absorbed by the planting of trees. I was just thinking of this recently and how much difference it would make if a huge global initiative of tree planting were undertaken. We have plenty of space for more trees and other vegetation all through towns and cities as well as large areas of open countryside. When I think of places like the Scottish Highlands, or the mountain ranges of Andalucia in Southern Spain that were once covered in treelife that was felled to build ships and other things. The Spanish are subsidizing farmers who plant trees on their land but it’s not enough and not fast enough. I think it has to be a global undertaking with everyone taking some responsibility. Just imagine the armies of the world on a mass tree planting expedition, planting fields, not killing fields.
I love the image of armies planting trees, or as you eloquently put it, spending time on “planting fields, not killing fields.”
There are several commendable organizations I know of / have volunteered with that plant trees in cities. One is Friends of the Urban Forest, which is almost single-handedly to thank for San Francisco’s trees. Another is Tree People, which has planted over a million trees in LA and also works on water initiatives. If anyone lives in these cities, volunteering with these organizations is absolutely the best way to spend a morning and get to know the city intimately. It’s also very rewarding.
Over 400 World Wide Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007.
See http://tinyurl.com/2dv6nz
Hi Gavin– Thanks for this very informative post on Korea’s new climate initiatives.
It’s so troubling to keep hearing that Korea is still looking at palm oil as a good substitute for petroleum. The environmental destruction caused by the production of palm oil far outweighs its benefits.
The industrialized (and rapidly developing) nations of Northern Asia– namely Japan, Korea and China– need to curb their demand for palm oil and old growth hardwoods. Otherwise the forests will be gone, the animals will be extinct and the air will no longer be breathable. Why are the policy makers of these countries in such denial??
My perspective is that of a conservationist dedicated to protecting wild orangutans from senseless slaughter and preserving their rainforest home in Borneo and Sumatra. I invite you and your readers to visit the Orangutan Outreach website to learn more about the horrific effects palm oil is having on these gentle red apes.
Thanks,
Richard Zimmerman
Director, Orangutan Outreach
http://redapes.org
Reach out and save the orangutans!
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Hi Gavin,
I’m thrilled that you’re using my photo, but it would be nice to get some credit. Thanks, Martin.
Hi Martin,
Thanks for the note and the great photo. I’ve reworded the photo credit at the bottom of the post.