H. Yoo
Research expert covering South Korea
Climate change in South Korea - statistics & facts
South Korea’s growth into an economic powerhouse has raised standards of living in the country like never before, but the fate of future generations seems less certain with the coming consequences of climate change. The urgency can be seen in both figures and public sentiment, with four of the five hottest years on record since 1973 all being after 2010. In response, the South Korean government has committed to investing more into renewable energy, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. While this is a positive first step, both the government and the public seem aware of the more significant changes needed to combat the climate crisis.
State of the climate
Around 677 million metric tons of greenhouse gases were emitted in South Korea in 2021. Official statistics indicate that the amount of PM10 in the air in South Korea exceeded the annual mean of 20 micrograms for PM10 as specified by the World Health Organization (WHO). This puts public health at risk while also contributing to warming average temperatures. This change in climate increases the likelihood of floods and other natural disasters, which the country’s coastal and agricultural areas are most vulnerable to. Indeed, the dangers of the climate crisis bleed into all areas of society, worsening inequality and creating more challenging conditions for economic growth.Opinions on the climate crisis in South Korea
This risk has not gone unnoticed, as both government and public sentiment have expressed growing concern over the state of the climate. In a survey given to members of the National Assembly, South Korea’s legislative branch, they believed that the number one human rights issue to arise from the climate crisis has been the potentially worsening inequality due to high climate disaster-related risk environments of socially vulnerable groups. Another survey on climate change awareness among the South Korean public also showed that over 65 percent of respondents felt some sort of impact of climate change in their everyday lives.Policies for emissions reduction in South Korea
The government has planned to reduce net emissions from around 686 million tons in 2018 to around 437 million tons by 2030. To incentivize companies to reduce emissions, South Korea implemented a carbon pricing system, the K-ETS, which would allow the trading of emissions credits. As of 2022, there were over one trillion South Korean won in investments in the new and renewable energy industry. On top of this, the current administration has expressed plans to expand the use of nuclear energy as a stepping stone to weening off fossil fuels. While changes are in effect to reduce emissions, whether they can buffer the coming impacts of climate change remains to be seen.
