Protestors slam policies at government's World Environment Day event

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Protestors slam policies at government's World Environment Day event

A group of environmental activists protest the Yoon Suk Yeol government's environmental policies at Korea University in Seongbuk District, central Seoul on Monday as the Environment Ministry held an event to celebrate World Environment Day. [JEONG SANG-WON]

A group of environmental activists protest the Yoon Suk Yeol government's environmental policies at Korea University in Seongbuk District, central Seoul on Monday as the Environment Ministry held an event to celebrate World Environment Day. [JEONG SANG-WON]

 
A group of environmental activists on Monday slammed the Yoon Suk Yeol government for its “regression” on environmental policy ahead of the Environment Ministry’s event commemorating World Environment Day the same day.
 
Some 20 members of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements called for the "disbanding of the Environment Ministry" at the campus of Korea University in Anam-dong, northern Seoul, where an event to celebrate the start of a government-led environmental campaign was held on Monday.
 
Dubbed “Bye Bye Plastic,” the campaign stresses the need to reduce the use of plastics in line with the theme of this year's World Environment Day, "Beat plastic pollution." 
 
According to the Environment Ministry, the campaign also introduces 10 different habits to protect the environment, such as reducing the use of single-use wet tissues and plastic straws.
 
During the event, Environment Minister Han Wha-jin revisited the government’s stance on the environment, supporting the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth’s decision to relax the industrial carbon reduction target by 2030.
 
On March 21 the government lowered the 2030 industrial carbon reduction target from the previous 14.5 percent to 11.4 percent, while maintaining the previous administration’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) goal. Korea’s NDC goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent to 436.6 million tons from the country’s peak of 727.6 million tons in 2018.
 
The minister also stressed that the government will “strengthen the system of resources circulation, including consumption, production and disposal” and “promote support measures to train youths and experts in the green industry" during her speech on Monday.
 
Environmental activists on the same day harshly criticized the government, accusing it of “stepping back” in policies, specifically referring to the ministry’s recent approvals on multiple projects, including a new cable car on Mount Seorak in Gangwon.
 
The government gave conditional approval to the project on February 27, dependent on measures to protect the environment. First proposed in 1982, the project has been rejected and revised for years due to environmental concerns.  
 
“The Yoon government’s regression on multiple environmental policies is for the sake of business convenience,” said Jeong Kyu-seok, secretary general of Green Korea United.
 
The ministry has been relaxing restrictions and scrapping the previous government's policies to support the development and export of green projects, explaining it “cannot ignore the geography of Korea,” as over 60 percent of Korea’s land is forested.
 
The government also said environmental policies must reflect that the country’s economic structure centers on exports by manufacturing companies.
 
While the previous government promoted denuclearization and the expansion of renewable energy, the Yoon government has been stressing its stance on overcoming the climate crisis and environmental issues through the development of science and technology.
 
The ministry had earlier announced it will invest 1.3 trillion won ($995 million) into the development of technologies related to the environment, such as carbon capture, utilization and support, and aims to raise 100 trillion won worth of exports related to green businesses in Korea by 2027.

BY JEONG EUN-HYE, CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]
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