Strengthening National Statistical Management of Air Pollutants Including Fine Dust

Ministry of Environment Holds First Meeting of the National Air Pollutant Emission Information Management Committee

Hong Jeong-gi, Vice Minister of Environment. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Environment is strengthening the management of national statistics on air pollutants such as fine dust.

The National Fine Dust Information Center (Information Center) under the Ministry of Environment held the first meeting of the 'National Air Pollutant Emission Information Management Committee' on the 29th at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, chaired by Hong Jeong-gi, Vice Minister of Environment.

The Management Committee is the institution that finalizes national statistics by advancing methods for estimating emissions, including verification of emission factors for air pollutants.

Jo Yujin, Acting Director of the Information Center, and Jang Young-gi, professor at Suwon University, were appointed as co-chairs.

Researchers from national research institutes, university professors, and representatives from related industries participate as committee members from various fields of private expertise.

In line with the launch of the Management Committee, the Information Center will implement a four-year plan (2020?2023) to improve national air pollutant emission information.

By 2023, the announcement cycle of national statistics on air pollutant emissions will be shortened from the current three years to two years.

Also, instead of releasing all emission information at once, information by sector will be announced immediately after emission verification is completed.

To this end, the Information Center will develop emission factors and emission estimation models optimized for domestic conditions, and improve the basic emission information acquisition system through collaboration with over 150 related organizations such as the Korea Energy Agency and the Korea Construction Equipment Association.

Hong Jeong-gi, Vice Minister of Environment, stated, "To enhance the effectiveness of fine dust measures, the reliability and promptness of statistics are paramount," adding, "We will spare no administrative and financial support necessary for improving the air pollutant emission statistics management system."