{"id":2199573,"date":"2022-11-25T09:44:59","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T09:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2199573"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:10:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:10:55","slug":"south-korea-faces-growing-pressure-at-home-and-abroad-to-act-on-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/11\/south-korea-faces-growing-pressure-at-home-and-abroad-to-act-on-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea faces growing pressure at home and abroad to act on climate change"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a global climate crisis looms ever larger, countries from around the world recently agreed to commit financial aid to places most affected by global warming-related disasters. South Korea, a big polluter with a big economy, could face pressure to step up these contributions in the years ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201c<\/span>loss and damage<\/span><\/a>\u201d fund scheme was agreed to at least week\u2019s COP27 summit in Egypt, but while participating countries agreed to the fund in principle, they did not come to a conclusion regarding the specifics of which countries should offer money and how much they should pay. Thus far, only Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Scotland and the EU have <\/span>committed funding<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fund could be expensive: According to a <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> sponsored by the World Bank and others, flooding in Pakistan this year \u2014 which was often brought up during COP27 \u2014 caused over $30 billion in damage. Some research suggests that, by 2030, damage from climate change worldwide could reach as much as <\/span>$580 billion per year<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just before COP27 was scheduled to wrap up, the EU decided to <\/span>agree to a fund<\/span><\/a>, but on the condition that large polluters still classified as developing countries under the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are included as potential donors and not recipients.<\/span><\/p>\n

This proposition appears to have been aimed at China. The original idea of the UNFCCC was to commit richer countries to combat climate change while shielding poorer countries from the impact those response measures might have on their economies. Now, China is the world\u2019s second-largest economy and the biggest polluter.<\/span><\/p>\n

But while it\u2019s not close to China\u2019s carbon emissions in absolute terms, South Korea could come under similar scrutiny going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

South Korea is the world\u2019s 10th-largest carbon emitter | Image: Republic of Korea<\/a> (Aug. 24, 2022)<\/p><\/div>\n

K-EMISSIONS<\/b><\/p>\n

Today, South Korea is not only the world\u2019s 10th-largest economy, but it is also the <\/span>10th-largest carbon emitter<\/span><\/a>. While the country drops to 18th if you include all emissions from 1950, this still makes it a <\/span>larger greenhouse gas emitter<\/span><\/a>\u00a0than the bottom 100 ranking countries combined.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last 30 years, South Korea\u2019s carbon emissions have increased by <\/span>roughly 139%<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the statistics are bad enough for South Korea in absolute terms, the ROK\u2019s relative performance in anti-carbon efforts is even poorer.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023<\/span><\/a> \u2014 an annual independent monitoring report that tracks the climate protection performance of 60 countries \u2014 put South Korea at 57th overall. This was a \u201cvery low\u201d performance, according to the CCPI, putting it below the U.S. and even China.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems South Korean domestic media is paying attention to these poor marks. While President Yoon Suk-yeol did not attend this year\u2019s climate summit, there was <\/span>no shortage<\/span><\/a> of <\/span>critical reports<\/span><\/a> and commentary about the role South Korea can and should play in combating climate change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This included discussions about Seoul\u2019s <\/span>proper contribut<\/span>ions<\/span><\/a> to the damage fund, <\/span>pointing to<\/span><\/a> the country\u2019s <\/span>high level of emissions<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>economic power<\/span><\/a> as evidence of its duty to take responsibility and its capability to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

The Yoon administration has changed some of its predecessor\u2019s climate policies | Image: Republic of Korea (June 27, 2022)<\/p><\/div>\n

YOON AND CLIMATE<\/b><\/p>\n

It remains to be seen whether the administration will live up to these expectations. Yoon recently said that he would maintain his predecessor\u2019s <\/span>promise<\/span><\/a> to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2018 levels by 2030.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But he also <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> that he has \u201cdoubts\u201d about whether the Moon Jae-in administration “properly considered the burden it can cause to the people if they announce something without a scientific basis, and without collecting the opinions of industrial circles or establishing a roadmap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that \u201ccarbon neutrality must be accompanied by innovations and technological developments in the environment-friendly and new and renewable energy sectors because it must not become a burden for our industries.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Yoon administration\u2019s <\/span>first energy plan<\/span><\/a> in August increased Moon\u2019s <\/span>nuclear energy<\/span><\/a> target from 23.9% to 32.8%. But Yoon also decreased Moon\u2019s renewable energy goal from 30% to 21.5%.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, according to the plan, South Korea still <\/span>aims<\/span><\/a> to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the low contribution for the Adaption Fund for developing countries that South Korea announced at COP27 could be a bleak reflection of things to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

The country only pledged <\/span>$2.7 million<\/span><\/a> from 2023 to 2025. In contrast, the U.K. <\/span>tripled<\/span><\/a> its funding for climate adaptation from roughly to $600 million in 2019 to around $1.8 billion in 2025. The U.S. <\/span>doubled its pledge<\/span><\/a> to the Adaption Fund to $100 million and announced over $150 million for efforts in Africa, while Germany <\/span>promised<\/span><\/a> $172 million to the Global Shield project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Going forward, while it seems that South Korea will <\/span>continue to deliberate<\/span><\/a> the fund, it likely won\u2019t be a major driver behind the project under the current government.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by Arius Derr<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a global climate crisis looms ever larger, countries from around the world recently agreed to commit financial aid to places most affected by global warming-related disasters. South Korea, a big polluter with a big economy, could face pressure to step up these contributions in the years ahead. 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