New Year's Wish: How About a 'Carbon Diet' Instead of Belly Fat? [Reading Science]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Year of the Black Tiger, Im In-nyeon, has dawned. The number one New Year's resolution will probably again be to reduce the thickened belly fat this year. But how about planning a 'carbon diet' starting this year?

Last year, extreme natural disasters caused by climate change occurred one after another around the globe. Representative cases include the 'unseasonal' winter tornado that devastated the central United States last month, the unexpected 100-year heatwave in western Canada, and the massive floods in central Europe, where floods were unheard of. Some economists joked, "Korea is well-trained in 'extreme climate' with distinct four seasons, so it's okay." However, the reality is that damage caused by increasingly extreme changes in vegetation and climate is also increasing in our country. In response, governments around the world are striving to achieve 'carbon neutrality' by 2050, and recently, President Moon Jae-in of Korea set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. Just as taking care of individual health is important, efforts to take care of the Earth's health together are also very crucial at this time.

Of course, it is much more efficient and important to change technology, systems, and policies at social, industrial, and corporate levels, but we must not forget that unless individuals' daily lives change, it is difficult for the supporting systems to change. Especially, Korea has successfully transitioned from a poor country to a rich one, but unfortunately, it is also ranked among the representative 'villains' in resource waste.

According to the Climate Change Center, as of 2016, Korea's plastic waste emissions reached 88kg per capita, ranking third in the world. This is excessively high compared to its 10th place in the global economy. Although the waste recycling rate is high (86.5% as of 2019), the actual rate is only about 20%. The 'mountains of garbage' abandoned across the country, which were 'exported' to China and Southeast Asia but forcibly returned, are the reality. Incinerating 1kg of plastic or vinyl emits 2.76kg of carbon dioxide, which has a very large negative impact on climate change. To increase the recycling of PET bottles, a representative example of plastic waste, it has been mandatory since December 2020 to remove labels before disposal, but because they get mixed again at sorting centers, this has frustrated the nationwide 'garbage enthusiasts' who are putting all their effort into recycling.

The issue of food waste is also serious. The amount of food waste thrown away annually per Korean is 130kg, which is much higher than Europe (95kg) and North America (119kg). In a situation where many countries are struggling with food shortages, food loss and waste are among the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions. Eight percent of the greenhouse gases emitted worldwide annually come from food waste.

The solution is clear. Use less, waste less, and increase recycling. Various efforts are being made worldwide. Coffee shops are not using disposable paper cups, and places banning the use of single-use plastic bags are increasing. Manufacturers using eco-friendly and alternative materials such as biodegradable and bio-based plastics and mushroom leather products are also increasing. For a carbon diet, individuals need to participate in these movements through 'smart' consumption. Also, in the case of food waste, it is necessary to plan ahead, purchase only what is needed, manage food in the refrigerator well to avoid throwing it away, and creatively recycle leftover ingredients and food.