[The Editors' Verdict] Seeking Harmony Between Carbon Neutrality and Economic Development

The 2020s will be remembered as the decade when carbon neutrality truly began in earnest. According to UN news, more than 110 countries have declared carbon neutrality. Last year, China, the largest carbon emitter, and South Korea also joined the carbon neutrality movement. Carbon neutrality is a strategy to implement the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement aimed to limit atmospheric temperature but did not explicitly set carbon neutrality as a goal. While the temperature limit was somewhat ambiguous, carbon neutrality emerged as a very concrete target.

Countries that have declared carbon neutrality include major emitters like the United States and China, as well as small states like Vatican City. Most countries aim for carbon neutrality by 2050, but China and Brazil have set 2060 as their target. Countries like Ethiopia have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2030, and Bhutan and Suriname are recognized as carbon-absorbing countries, absorbing more carbon than they emit. Looking at carbon neutrality alone, it seems that developed and developing countries might switch roles.

Although many countries have declared carbon neutrality, few enforce concrete implementation. Some European countries such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Denmark have codified it into law. South Korea and the European Union (EU) have declared carbon neutrality but submitted it to the UN as a long-term strategy without binding obligations. Major economic powers responsible for half of global carbon emissions, such as China, the United States, and Japan, have only submitted letters of intent. This shows how challenging carbon neutrality is for economic powerhouses that account for most carbon emissions.

In 2018, global carbon emissions reached 33 billion tons. China accounted for about 10 billion tons, or 30%, with the United States second at roughly half of China’s emissions. South Korea emitted 650 million tons, ranking eighth. Pursuing carbon neutrality at the expense of economic development is meaningless. For example, North Korea’s carbon emissions were less than 60 million tons in 2016. According to the World Bank, North Korea’s per capita carbon emissions are less than one-tenth of South Korea’s. Given its continued negative growth, emissions are likely even lower now. Yet no one regards North Korea as a model country for climate crisis response.

Although countries competitively declare carbon neutrality, none of it seems easy. U.S. President Joe Biden signed an “Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis” just one week after taking office on the 27th of last month. Externally, this meant rejoining the Paris Agreement, and domestically, it meant suspending new fossil fuel extraction such as gas and oil on federal lands. Even this seemingly natural measure for carbon neutrality was met with lawsuits from 200 gas and oil operators in Wyoming. They claimed it was an overreach that did not consider economic damage. Achieving carbon neutrality while sustaining economic development is not easy. It is a challenging goal that requires tightening belts and firm resolve.

However, before asking citizens to tighten their belts through regulations, the government and the National Assembly must deeply consider how to harmonize carbon neutrality with economic development. For example, it is not enough to simply emphasize renewable energy and one-sidedly advocate for nuclear phase-out.

The photo of residents gathering firewood during the recent cold snap in Texas speaks volumes. Citizens facing soaring electricity bills and energy shortages cannot be expected to pursue carbon neutrality by burning wood just to survive the cold.

Jeong Dong-wook, Professor, Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Chung-Ang University