President considering emissions cut proposals
Published: 05 Nov. 2009, 22:17
Korea moved a step closer yesterday to fulfilling its pledge to the international community to set a 2020 emissions reduction target by the end of this year.
At a meeting of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, two proposed goals for greenhouse gas emission cuts were presented to the president ahead of a final decision to be made later this month.
As a part of the efforts, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs also laid out programs focused on energy-efficient urban planning.
In 2005, Korea emitted 591.1 million tons of carbon dioxide, the ninth most emissions among the nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. At current rates, emissions are projected to grow by 37 percent in 2020.
According to the Blue House and the committee, President Lee Myung-bak was briefed on two proposals in which the country will instead either freeze or cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent by 2020 in comparison to 2005. The cabinet will make a decision between the two at a meeting on Nov. 17.
The freeze plan will translate into a 27 percent reduction of the “business-as-usual” projection, while the 4 percent cut plan will bring a 30 percent reduction by 2020 under the same scenario.
A source at the Blue House said the 4 percent cut plan will likely be adopted, despite the business community’s opposition to the goal. At the meeting yesterday, President Lee emphasized the need for Korea to go after an aggressive target.
“The business community is concerned about the greenhouse gas emission reduction goal, and I agree that it shouldn’t hinder Korea’s economic growth,” Lee said.
“However, I believe it is important to establish an ideal goal and try to achieve it. When the goal is lowered, it is hard to change the people’s awareness.”
According to Lee’s spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye, the president also emphasized that the most effective and speedy technology in green growth will be energy saving, urging the public to join the national effort.
While the decision on the emissions reduction goal will be decided later this month, the Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry presented a series of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 through construction and transportation regulations.
Energy-saving mechanisms for buildings will be gradually reinforced, and starting 2025, “zero-energy” construction will be required for all new buildings. Under the program, the new buildings will have to self-supply energy.
Starting next year, a building’s total energy consumption will be regulated and certificates of energy consumption will be required as a part of real estate transactions starting 2012.
For residential buildings, energy consumption for heating and cooling is required to be cut by 20 percent by 2012 and starting in 2017, home energy efficiencies will be required to improve by at least 60 percent through better insulation.
The ministry estimated that the programs would cut buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions to 31 percent below the “business-as-usual” projections by 2020.
The ministry also presented a low-carbon transportation system strategy, noting that greenhouse gas emissions increase at the fastest in the transportation sector.
While the government will cut investments in roads, more money will go into railways, the ministry said.
The ministry said the series of measures will likely lower the greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector by up to 37 percent under the business-as-usual scenario.
About 7.2 trillion won ($6.1 billion) in energy costs will be saved annually under the strategy, it said.
Under the plan, investment in the nation’s railroad network will be increased from 29 percent of the total social overhead capital investment to 50 percent by 2020. In return, the investment in roads will decrease from 57.2 percent to 40 percent.
Companies that switch from road shipping to railroad and maritime shipping will receive incentives in a pilot program starting next year.
The government will pay more attention to advanced green transportation technologies, including development of next-generation bullet trains that can operate at 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) per hour and on magnetic levitation trains.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
At a meeting of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, two proposed goals for greenhouse gas emission cuts were presented to the president ahead of a final decision to be made later this month.
As a part of the efforts, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs also laid out programs focused on energy-efficient urban planning.
In 2005, Korea emitted 591.1 million tons of carbon dioxide, the ninth most emissions among the nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. At current rates, emissions are projected to grow by 37 percent in 2020.
According to the Blue House and the committee, President Lee Myung-bak was briefed on two proposals in which the country will instead either freeze or cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent by 2020 in comparison to 2005. The cabinet will make a decision between the two at a meeting on Nov. 17.
The freeze plan will translate into a 27 percent reduction of the “business-as-usual” projection, while the 4 percent cut plan will bring a 30 percent reduction by 2020 under the same scenario.
A source at the Blue House said the 4 percent cut plan will likely be adopted, despite the business community’s opposition to the goal. At the meeting yesterday, President Lee emphasized the need for Korea to go after an aggressive target.
“The business community is concerned about the greenhouse gas emission reduction goal, and I agree that it shouldn’t hinder Korea’s economic growth,” Lee said.
“However, I believe it is important to establish an ideal goal and try to achieve it. When the goal is lowered, it is hard to change the people’s awareness.”
According to Lee’s spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye, the president also emphasized that the most effective and speedy technology in green growth will be energy saving, urging the public to join the national effort.
While the decision on the emissions reduction goal will be decided later this month, the Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry presented a series of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 through construction and transportation regulations.
Energy-saving mechanisms for buildings will be gradually reinforced, and starting 2025, “zero-energy” construction will be required for all new buildings. Under the program, the new buildings will have to self-supply energy.
Starting next year, a building’s total energy consumption will be regulated and certificates of energy consumption will be required as a part of real estate transactions starting 2012.
For residential buildings, energy consumption for heating and cooling is required to be cut by 20 percent by 2012 and starting in 2017, home energy efficiencies will be required to improve by at least 60 percent through better insulation.
The ministry estimated that the programs would cut buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions to 31 percent below the “business-as-usual” projections by 2020.
The ministry also presented a low-carbon transportation system strategy, noting that greenhouse gas emissions increase at the fastest in the transportation sector.
While the government will cut investments in roads, more money will go into railways, the ministry said.
The ministry said the series of measures will likely lower the greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector by up to 37 percent under the business-as-usual scenario.
About 7.2 trillion won ($6.1 billion) in energy costs will be saved annually under the strategy, it said.
Under the plan, investment in the nation’s railroad network will be increased from 29 percent of the total social overhead capital investment to 50 percent by 2020. In return, the investment in roads will decrease from 57.2 percent to 40 percent.
Companies that switch from road shipping to railroad and maritime shipping will receive incentives in a pilot program starting next year.
The government will pay more attention to advanced green transportation technologies, including development of next-generation bullet trains that can operate at 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) per hour and on magnetic levitation trains.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)