[Viewpoint] In 2020, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Is a Calling of Our Time

Park Cheon-gyu, Vice Minister of Environment

More than 30 years have passed since the 1992 Rio Conference, where the international community first pledged to jointly address climate change. However, during this period, the annual global greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 1.5 times. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at the highest level in human history.

The international community, through the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, promised to limit the global average temperature rise to 2℃ above pre-industrial levels and to strive to keep it within 1.5℃. However, the temperature has already risen by 1℃, and the ten hottest years have all occurred within the last decade. Domestic greenhouse gas emissions have more than doubled, from 344 million tons in 1992 to 709 million tons in 2017. The average temperature in South Korea has also risen by about 1.4℃.

It is not enough to excuse this as a result of economic growth; countries like the United Kingdom and Denmark have achieved decoupling, maintaining economic growth rates while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. South Korea has served as a model for developing countries by achieving significant environmental improvements alongside rapid economic growth in a short period. Therefore, as a middle power, South Korea must demonstrate leadership in responding to climate change.

The top priority is to faithfully implement the '2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target' promised to the international community. At the end of last year, the government revised the enforcement decree of the Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth, changing the national reduction target from a 37% cut compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) emission forecast to a 24.4% reduction compared to the 2017 emission level of 709 million tons. By basing the reduction target on past emissions rather than vague future projections, the government has formalized its commitment to shift policies toward definitively reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This year, the government will conduct the first-ever 'Inter-Ministerial Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target Implementation Review and Evaluation.' It will assess and evaluate the performance of greenhouse gas reduction policies implemented by each ministry against pre-agreed targets from the previous year. Additionally, it will revisit improvement tasks and disclose the results transparently.

The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a representative reduction measure. Companies responsible for over 70% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions participate in it. The third plan period will begin next year and last for five years, with sector- and company-specific emission allocations to be finalized by June. The basic direction remains the implementation of the 2030 national greenhouse gas reduction target. The total allocation will be reduced in line with the reduction target, and companies subject to paid allocation will be required to purchase at least 10% of their allocation through auctions to encourage industrial greenhouse gas reduction actions. Before deciding on emission allocations, the Ministry of Environment will gather broad opinions from industry, experts, and civil society to ensure that the domestic industry does not bear excessive burdens. Furthermore, an implementation plan will be prepared to expand support for greenhouse gas reduction projects, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises, by utilizing revenues from paid allocation auctions.

The supply of future vehicles (electric and hydrogen vehicles) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector will continue to expand. This year, the goal is to reach a cumulative supply of 200,000 future vehicles. Especially with the launch of ultra-small electric cargo vehicles and 1-ton class small electric cargo vehicles in the second half of last year, the supply of future vehicles in the commercial vehicle sector, which significantly reduces not only greenhouse gases but also fine dust, is expected to increase substantially. In the second half of this year, a mid- to long-term strategy to convert diesel cargo trucks to eco-friendly cargo trucks will be promoted in cooperation with related ministries. Additionally, the next average fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles (2021?2030) will be finalized within the year, considering the levels of advanced countries such as the European Union (EU).

Climate change is no longer just a crisis for polar bears. We can no longer postpone greenhouse gas reduction efforts by citing economic growth or inconvenience in daily life as excuses. The government intends to devote all efforts this year to ushering in a full-fledged era of greenhouse gas reduction. We hope that the public will also contribute through small daily actions, such as reducing the use of disposable products and maintaining appropriate indoor temperatures to save energy.

Park Cheon-gyu, Vice Minister of Environment