By Kim Se-jeong
The government has announced it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent from the previous projected emission levels for 2030.
This means that Korea's greenhouse gas emissions will be less than 536 million tons in 2030 if the plan is implemented successfully.
The target is higher than the Park Geun-hye administration's four earlier proposals, but still lower than the reduction target set in 2009 under the Lee Myung-bak government.
"Considering Korea's stance in the International community and negative feedback on the four proposals, we decided to present a more ambitious goal," an official from the Ministry of Environment said.
The official said there has been growing pressure from environmentalists and the international community to scrap the four proposals. Young Soo-gil, the former chairman of the Committee on Green Growth under President Lee Myung-bak, also issued a statement urging the government to use accurate data to come up with a new reduction target.
In 2009, the Lee administration vowed that by 2020, Korea would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from the business as usual (BAU) level in 2005.
Under the new plan, Korea would emit 536 million tons of greenhouse gas in 2030, 7 million tons less than the predicted 2020 level.
The plan was submitted to the United Nations, Tuesday. If adopted at the annual climate change conference in Paris this December, it will become a binding target for Korea over the next 15 years.
Acknowledging strong opposition from the business sector, the government said achieving the 37 percent goal without putting further pressure on industry was doable.
According to the plan, about 11.3 percent of projected emissions will be covered by carbon credits obtained from overseas, including North Korea. In other words, the government will run more environmental development projects overseas or purchase carbon credits directly to meet the goal. The rest will be achieved by implementing new regulations and changing laws, officials said.
Countries with greenhouse gas reduction responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol are allowed to use credits.
Those such as Japan purchased carbon credits from open carbon markets after it emitted more than was agreed. Europe has the biggest carbon market, by size, but because of cheap carbon credits, the market is slow. Negotiations are underway to create a new carbon trade system at the Paris conference.
Environmentalists are still not satisfied with the new goal, however.
Ahn Byung-ok from the Institute for Climate Change Action, an NGO based in Seoul said, "Domestic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can lead to technological advancement and job creation, but purchasing carbon credits will not do any good, except spend taxpayers' money."
Seok Kwang-hoon from Energy Network was also critical. "Knowing the country's fiscal condition, I don't see how the government can purchase these credits." The government did not explain how it plans to pay for the credits.
The government has announced it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent from the previous projected emission levels for 2030.
This means that Korea's greenhouse gas emissions will be less than 536 million tons in 2030 if the plan is implemented successfully.
The target is higher than the Park Geun-hye administration's four earlier proposals, but still lower than the reduction target set in 2009 under the Lee Myung-bak government.
"Considering Korea's stance in the International community and negative feedback on the four proposals, we decided to present a more ambitious goal," an official from the Ministry of Environment said.
The official said there has been growing pressure from environmentalists and the international community to scrap the four proposals. Young Soo-gil, the former chairman of the Committee on Green Growth under President Lee Myung-bak, also issued a statement urging the government to use accurate data to come up with a new reduction target.
In 2009, the Lee administration vowed that by 2020, Korea would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from the business as usual (BAU) level in 2005.
Under the new plan, Korea would emit 536 million tons of greenhouse gas in 2030, 7 million tons less than the predicted 2020 level.
The plan was submitted to the United Nations, Tuesday. If adopted at the annual climate change conference in Paris this December, it will become a binding target for Korea over the next 15 years.
Acknowledging strong opposition from the business sector, the government said achieving the 37 percent goal without putting further pressure on industry was doable.
According to the plan, about 11.3 percent of projected emissions will be covered by carbon credits obtained from overseas, including North Korea. In other words, the government will run more environmental development projects overseas or purchase carbon credits directly to meet the goal. The rest will be achieved by implementing new regulations and changing laws, officials said.
Countries with greenhouse gas reduction responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol are allowed to use credits.
Those such as Japan purchased carbon credits from open carbon markets after it emitted more than was agreed. Europe has the biggest carbon market, by size, but because of cheap carbon credits, the market is slow. Negotiations are underway to create a new carbon trade system at the Paris conference.
Environmentalists are still not satisfied with the new goal, however.
Ahn Byung-ok from the Institute for Climate Change Action, an NGO based in Seoul said, "Domestic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can lead to technological advancement and job creation, but purchasing carbon credits will not do any good, except spend taxpayers' money."
Seok Kwang-hoon from Energy Network was also critical. "Knowing the country's fiscal condition, I don't see how the government can purchase these credits." The government did not explain how it plans to pay for the credits.
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