By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The government approved plans Friday to spend approximately five trillion won up to 2012 to secure green technology to cope with the global issue of climate change.
In a meeting of an ad hoc committee to address climate change, it also adopted a carbon tax system that will be imposed to help regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo.
The government will strengthen financial support since it is estimated that nearly 31 trillion won will be required over the next five years to meet commitments to reduce emissions.
``The government proclaimed this year a year of green growth with low carbon emission and will prepare a foundation to become an advanced country through green development,'' Cho Jung-pyo, minister at the Office of the Prime Minister, told reporters.
The move comes as follow-up measures to President Lee Myung-bak's vision on low-carbon, green growth and securing new growth engines suggested in his speech to mark the 60th Liberation Day Aug. 15.
Under the plan, the government will invest the five trillion won into research and development (R&D) in green technology such as thin-film solar cells.
To secure new growth engines, the nation plans to expand annual exports of equipment that generates solar and wind power to 10 trillion won by 2012 and establish a complex for new renewable energy, he said.
It plans to provide energy for up to one million households from renewable sources, which are cheaper and more eco-friendly to produce than coal-generated power.
The government also plans to nurture experts in water management, Cho said.
To improve individual energy consumption, the nation will encourage consumers to use light and green cars, and constructors to build green houses and buildings which emit less carbon dioxide and use less energy.
Regarding the carbon tax system, the minister promised that it would not financially burden citizens since the tax will likely be imposed only on some companies emitting massive quantities of carbon.
The government is seeking to provide a more environment-friendly transportation systems such as light railways, and will regulate carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.
The development of green industries is expected to create about 200,000 by 2030, the minister said.