Can Korea Really Make Carbon Neutrality a Reality? 대한민국청소년영어뉴스/KOREAN YOUTH ENGLISH NEWS
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  • 기사등록 2021-08-31 10:28:26
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▲ President Moon Jae-in repoted ‘Korean version’ New Deal policies.



On May 21st, the Korea-U.S. summit was held.


As a result of the summit, Korea and the United States promised to increase mutual investment

and to fortify cooperative actions against the prevalence of COVID-19 by addressing vaccination problems.

Additionally, South Korea hosted the P4G Seoul Summit for an unprecedented duration of 2 days,

from May 31 to 32. 12 nations attended the summit to discuss an era of carbon neutrality.


They talked about the role of companies’ revolution, changes in policy and infrastructure, cooperation between developed countries and international society for developing countries’ growth focusing on clean energy.


We should concentrate on ‘carbon’ to make a cleaner Earth environment. Korea is constructing its own policy and solutions to reduce carbon emission quantity; however, it is unclear how long it will take time to be popularized in our daily lives.


With that said, how should Korea carry out its carbon-reducing policies, and which obstacles are lurking?


It is said that carbon neutrality should be a background setting for new social, economic growth, and job creation, not as a reduction in existing industries. However, it seems that there are still many difficulties to apply plans and systems to our daily lives for carbon neutrality.



▲ ‘Korean version’ New Deal policies are focusing on economic, social changes.

The most common problem that now we are facing is regarding electric cars. The Korean government is executing an electric vehicle subsidy system by supporting people in a financial way.


This is to compare to the target amount which was set by the government in January this year.


The government set their propagation goal as 121,000 electric cars, but a subsidy is provided to only 75,000 cars. The budget for electric vehicle subsidies is increasing every year, but it is not enough to give equal benefits to all citizens. For these reasons, an increased budget can’t be a practical help in this situation.


Kim Kyung Hee, a member of Gyeonggi-do parliament stated, “...Budget for (electronic vehicle) charging station is inversely proportionate to government subsidy for purchase on the electronic vehicle, so the respective budget should be expanded; As (consumer) facing difficulties charging (their vehicle), we also expect delays of propagation.”


The increase in target number should be supported by a sufficient budget. Also, charging facilities are required. Since these things are not prepared perfectly, it becomes an ironic situation that the government promised financial support, but the promised benefits are not for everyone.


The government should solve the problem of basic factors which make people hesitate from purchasing electric cars, such as lack of charging places. Additionally, a constructive solution for a budget is also needed.


In order to solve problems in practical policies for carbon reduction and to make a carbon-low society, we should understand the ‘Green New Deal’ and Korea’s Green New Deal policies.


▲ ‘Korean version’ New Deal policies are focusing on economic, social changes.


The Green New Deal can be defined as ‘sustainable development focused on the environment and people.’ It is a policy that increases employment and investment by converting the current energy policy centered on fossil energy into a low-carbon economic structure.


The Green New Deal becomes an important key to break the current climate changes and unstable economy at the same time. With goals such as the green conversion of public and private infrastructure, green industries fostering wildlife, the government of Korea is now working on implementing.


However, while major developed countries have declared net-zero and fortifying their actions against the climate crisis, Korea’s greenhouse gas emissions are increasing and a carbon-centered industrial system is being maintained. In fact, Korea's environmental and carbon reduction policies definitely have insufficient aspects in the system and practical parts when we contrast ours to other countries.


In the past few years, not only Korea but also the world has experienced a severe acceleration of climate change and has already reached a level that is difficult to recover. Planning for a long-term goal is important, however, in this urgent condition, the most important thing is practical and prompt measures that can make a positive difference immediately.


The government should realize renewable energy industry, green job creation, reduction of carbon emission, and slowing down climate changes based on Green New Deal which consider both of environment and society. It is necessary to awaken people's awareness of Earth’s change and to apply new policies to our daily life.


In order to advance to the carbon neutrality society, trinity consisting of the general public’s environmental awareness, government’s administrative momentum, and execution is essential.


July 14th was the 1st anniversary of Korea’s Green New Deal establishment, and President Moon Jae-in stressed a Green Transition by presenting the Korean version of Green New Deal 2.0.


It seems Korea will accelerate development in various fields and economic development by expanding investment amount for New Deal Policies from 160 trillion won to 220 trillion won. In the case of the Green New Deal, they announced that they are going to construct background settings for carbon neutrality, and expand its bound by combining ‘Green New Deal’ and carbon neutrality.


They said, “We are going to renovate greenhouse gases measuring system, adopt carbon border tax to follow global changes. As increase green infrastructure, and speed up green mobility industry such as electric car and hydrogen-fueled car, we will develop carbon reduction technology and green finance to facilitate the transformation of a low-carbon economy. "


Unlike last year’s Green New Deal policies, updated policies are much more focused on the groundwork for carbon neutrality. As it emphasized background for policies, practical ways to reduce carbon and institutional background should be established.


People must remember that simply listing and reminding laws or articles that were made at previous agreements cannot bring any positive result both in the social and environmental fields. Still, there are many obstacles to advance to carbon neutrality society. To get through these difficulties, quick but also cautious institutions and policies are essential.




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