[Choi Jun-young's Urban Pilgrimage] Carbon Neutrality and the Reconstruction of Cities

Carbon Neutrality Committee Unveils 2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario
Building Sector Emissions Must Be Reduced by About 90% Compared to 2018
Limits to Renovation and Repair of Existing Buildings... Urban Restructuring and Building Reconstruction Needed
Housing Prices Rise and Low-Income Groups Move to Outskirts... Changes Needed Despite Side Effects

In winter, it is common to see comparisons on television between heating methods in Korea and Europe. Korean homes are shown with high indoor temperatures and people wearing short sleeves, while European homes are depicted with lower temperatures and people wearing sweaters, accompanied by stern criticism of Korea’s energy overconsumption and calls to adopt Europe’s frugal attitude. But is it really the case that Europeans lower their home temperatures to save energy?

Actually, that is not true. Many European homes built long ago lack proper insulation, so even if heating costs are incurred, the temperature often does not rise much. Wearing more clothes is cheaper and more efficient than spending money on heating. In contrast, Korean apartments apply windows and walls that comply with increasingly stringent insulation regulations, making it possible to wear short sleeves at a low cost. While the outward comparison seems intuitive, it is important to consider that complex mechanisms and backgrounds often lie beneath the surface.

On August 5th, the Carbon Neutrality Committee released the “2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario Draft.” This marked the first step toward creating concrete plans to achieve net zero by 2050. Most attention regarding the scenario draft focused on the “transition” sector related to power generation and the industrial sector. Meanwhile, reduction targets for transportation, buildings, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors did not receive much attention, even though cities and buildings account for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions. Most greenhouse gases from buildings come from electricity, gas, and oil used in building operation and maintenance, including heating and cooling. Although cities cover only 3% of the Earth’s surface, they emit 75% of total carbon dioxide due to the high density of buildings.

According to the scenario, to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, the building sector must reduce emissions by 86.5?88% compared to the 2018 emission level of 52.1 million tons. It is believed this can be achieved by utilizing renewable energy, district heating, expanding green remodeling, and introducing surplus electricity trading between individuals to improve building energy efficiency. In fact, green remodeling of existing buildings can significantly reduce greenhouse gases by lowering electricity use per unit area from 12.8 kWh to 5.5 kWh. However, achieving nearly 90% reduction across all buildings is limited by the fact that many older buildings cannot be renovated or repaired due to structural and safety reasons. Moreover, since Korean buildings generally have better insulation and energy efficiency than those in Europe or the U.S., the potential for reduction through remodeling may not be as high as expected, making it practically very difficult to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets in the building sector.

Carbon neutrality assumes increased electricity use alongside fossil fuel reduction. Switching heating and cooking from fossil fuels to electricity can drastically reduce carbon emissions. Similarly, converting cars to electric vehicles reduces emissions. However, the infrastructure to handle the required electricity is not ready in many buildings. Blackouts in apartment complexes during heatwaves occur because transformers within the complexes cannot handle the increased electricity demand compared to the past. Electricity always seems readily available, but the infrastructure was built long ago and cannot keep up with changes.

Ultimately, achieving carbon neutrality in buildings and cities requires comprehensive urban restructuring and rebuilding of individual buildings. The process must begin now by selecting buildings that do not meet the highest energy and insulation efficiency standards and reconstructing them over the next 30 years. Transforming buildings into zero-house types that produce their own renewable energy, achieve higher energy efficiency, and minimize external energy dependence while assuming greater electricity use can also provide employment opportunities to address job losses caused by decarbonization in power generation and industry.

However, these changes bring several problems. Newly constructed buildings must meet stricter regulations and standards, making them inevitably more expensive. Higher housing costs may push low-income groups to the outskirts, destabilizing residential environments and potentially stimulating a housing market bubble. Such urban changes may cause population shifts and inflows, possibly leading to further expansion of large cities. This is a massive transformation far beyond simply remodeling or newly constructing a few zero-house buildings.

Nevertheless, to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, which is crucial for humanity’s survival and future, we must endure side effects and start changes quickly. With the current approach, where rebuilding a single apartment complex takes 20 years, carbon neutrality is impossible. Obsessing over short-term real estate issues will prevent achieving greater goals and tasks. Since this is a matter of human survival, extraordinary measures and bold implementation must follow accordingly.

Legal Expert, Yulchon LLC