If Air Pollution Emissions Are High, Next Year's Total Allowance Can Be 'Borrowed'

A new path has opened for businesses to flexibly manage their air pollutant emissions. If emissions are high, they can use part of the next year's emission allowance in advance, or if pollutants are reduced in another zone, the reduction amount can be recognized under the new system.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Environment announced that the "Special Act on Air Quality Improvement in Air Management Zones (Air Management Zones Act)" was passed at the Cabinet meeting and will be enforced from the 17th of this month. This revised enforcement decree was prepared following the introduction of the air pollutant emission total amount borrowing system and the external reduction activity recognition system on August 17 last year.

The borrowing system allows businesses subject to total emission management of air pollutants to use the total emission amount of another year in advance. For example, if a business anticipates high air pollutant emissions this year, it can bring forward and use part of the emission total amount allocated for the next year. The borrowing period is limited to up to five years in the future, and borrowing is allowed only within 10% of the emission allowance for the relevant year.

The external reduction activity recognition system allows emission reductions achieved by other businesses within the same air management zone to be recognized as reduction amounts. The scope of recognition targets relatively clear and verifiable air pollutant reductions, such as "fuel conversion projects." To receive recognition for external reductions, a business plan must be submitted to the local Regional Environmental Office before the project begins.

Oil Young, Director of Air Environment Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Even with the implementation of the flexibility system, the policy to reduce the total allowable emissions within the air management zone during the total amount plan period (5 years) will be maintained," adding, "We will continue to make efforts to improve air quality."