'Korea emitted less greenhouse gas in 2014'
By Kim Se-jeong Korea’s greenhouse gas emissions saw a decrease last year for the first time since 1998, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.Some 693 million tons of greenhouse gases were emitted in 2014, which was 4 million tons down from the previous year, the Chosun Ilbo reported, citing unidentified government data.While emissions and economic growth usually have a direct correlation, this marks the first time the country has reduced emissions while maintaining economic growth since the nation started to collect data in 1990, according to the newspaper.In 1998, both the gross domestic product and emissions dropped significantly from the previous year amid the Asian Financial Crisis. Generally, since 1990 the economy has grown by 5 percent every year and greenhouse gas emissions by 3.9 percent. That trend stopped last year, according to the report, which will come as welcome news to environmentalists.The Ministry of Environment refused to confirm the report, however.As one of the world’s major greenhouse gas emitters, the Korean government has come under pressure f
