The first National Carbon Neutrality Plan was announced by the government, with an aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The industrial sector’s responsibility was reduced from 14.5% to 11.4%, with the reduction to be covered by international reductions and shared among other sectors. The 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee outlined the detailed implementation plan for achieving the 2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target of 40% reduction compared to 2018. The conversion sector’s greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 1.5 percentage points to 45.9%, with the need for renewable energy generation stressed. However, the exact share of each generation source in 2030 was not revealed. The government’s evasion of responsibility and the feasibility of the 40% reduction target by 2030 were questioned by activists.
Announcement of the 1st National Carbon Neutrality Plan
Reducing industry responsibility and expanding renewable energy
Kim Sang-hyeop, chairman of the 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee, is speaking at a joint briefing of related ministries related to the ‘Basic Plan for Carbon Neutral Green Growth’ held at the Government Complex Sejong on the morning of the 21st. yunhap news
The government announced the draft of the ‘1st National Carbon Neutral Green Growth Basic Plan’, which lowered the amount of greenhouse gas reduction in the industrial sector from 14.5% to 11.4%. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all sectors of society must share the burden, but only the burden of companies and industries was reduced. In addition, it is pointed out that during the term of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the amount of greenhouse gas reduction was set to be insignificant, leaving the burden of responding to the climate crisis to the next government. The 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee (Tannokwi) under the direct control of the President held the 1st National Carbon Neutral Green Growth Basic Plan (2023-2042) government draft and the 2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (NDC) at the Sejong Government Complex on the 21st. Announced detailed implementation plans to achieve this. Looking at the basic plan and detailed implementation plan, it was decided to maintain the 2030 national greenhouse gas reduction target (40% reduction compared to 2018) announced during the Moon Jae-in administration, but reduce the burden on the industrial sector from 14.5% to 11.4%. It was decided to cover the reduced reductions through international reductions, and to share the burden of reduction in the hydrogen and carbon dioxide capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) sectors.
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The conversion sector, which refers to greenhouse gas emissions from the energy production process, was reduced by 45.9% from the previous 44.4%, increasing the reduction by 1.5 percentage points. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the conversion sector, thermal power generation must be replaced with renewable energy generation. In this regard, at the stage of establishing the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, there were voices arguing for the necessity of ‘expanding renewable energy’ within the Ministry of Environment and Tannokwe, but in this Tannokwei greenhouse gas reduction target, the reduction in the conversion sector was set by 1.5% points. It ended with a ‘sting’. Tannokwi added, “The share of new and renewable energy generation in 2030 will be 21.6%+@”, without revealing the exact share (energy mix) of each generation source in 2030. The Yoon Seok-yeol government’s evasion of responsibility is also controversial. Looking at the annual GHG reduction targets for 2023-2030 announced by Tannokwi, it was found that national GHG emissions were emitting more than 600 billion tons annually during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s term, and decided to reduce it only at the end of the term. After that, it plans to reduce 150 million tons in just three years from 2027 to 2030, as the burden of reduction will increase. Kwon Gyeong-rak, an activist of the climate organization ‘Plan 1.5’, said, “The average reduction rate during the current government’s term is 2%, and it is set to reduce the average annual rate of 9.3% for the remaining 3 years of the next government.” It’s going to take all the burden of reduction. It is questionable whether the 40% reduction target by 2030 is achievable.” Reporter Nam Jong-young [email protected]
The announcement of the 1st National Carbon Neutrality Plan has been met with both optimism and criticism. While the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector has been lowered to reduce the burden on companies and industries, some argue that this places a heavier burden on other sectors of society. Additionally, the decision to maintain the 2030 national greenhouse gas reduction target but reduce the burden on the industrial sector has raised questions regarding the government’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis. Nevertheless, the increase in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the conversion sector is a step in the right direction towards expanding renewable energy. The success of this plan ultimately depends on the government’s ability to implement it effectively and hold all sectors of society accountable for reducing their carbon footprint.