On March 2nd, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Han-ae) announced the ‘2021 Carbon Neutral Implementation Plan’ to realize Korea’s carbon neutrality by 2050. This implementation plan was prepared through internal discussions such as carbon neutrality and the Green New Deal strategy dialogue in order to present a clear direction for the entire government policy for carbon neutrality in 2050 and to play a leading role in realizing carbon neutrality by the Ministry of Environment.
The Ministry of Environment plans to establish a sophisticated greenhouse gas reduction scenario by June this year to suggest the direction of 2050 carbon neutrality.
A technical working group centered around the national research institute (Ministry of Environment’s Greenhouse Gas Information Center) is formed, and the reduction potential is analyzed to prepare multiple scenarios for 2050 carbon neutrality.
It establishes communication channels with industry, civil society, and local governments to collect opinions, and finalizes the scenario through a national debate.
Based on the carbon-neutral scenario, the core policy implementation strategies for each sector of the ‘2050 Carbon Neutral Promotion Strategy’ are also established with relevant ministries.
The Ministry of Environment plans to establish strategies with relevant ministries for 11 out of 31 tasks to be implemented. The main strategies are △ Future Vehicle Transition Strategy △ Circular Economy Innovation Roadmap △ Nature and Ecology-Based Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Adaptation Strategy, etc. There is this.
The core policy implementation strategy is a long-term strategy aimed at 2050, predicting the future and setting directions. To this end, the Ministry of Environment organizes and operates the’Carbon Neutral Research Forum (tentative name)’ with specialized organizations such as the Korea Environmental Policy and Evaluation Institute (KEI).
In addition, the ‘2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (NDC)’, which reduces the current national GHG reduction target by 24.4% compared to 2017, will be promoted.
Realization of carbon neutrality by sector
Based on a solid implementation system, such as scenarios and key implementation strategies, we plan to implement tasks for each sector such as energy conversion, future vehicles, carbon-neutral buildings, and a zero-waste circular economy.
Expand the supply of renewable energy utilizing environmental resources such as floating solar power, hydrothermal energy, and offshore wind power. A 147.4MW floating solar power development project will be implemented for five dams (8 projects) including the Hapcheon Dam, and hydrothermal energy development pilot projects (8 locations) will be promoted for each type of source water.
The hydrothermal energy development pilot project will be promoted with 2 river waters, 4 regional waterworks, and 2 outflow groundwater. In addition, the design of the Gangwon-do hydrothermal energy convergence cluster is completed, the feasibility of the construction of the’water-energy enterprise integrated complex’ is investigated, and the’water energy comprehensive public relations center’ is designed to be built.
Open road improvement for the diffusion of hydrothermal energy will also be promoted. It lays the foundation for diffusion of water heat, such as amendment of river laws, such as reduction of river water usage fees, and establishment of large capacity heat pump installation and construction performance test standards.
To revitalize offshore wind power, the system for the entire process of environmental impact assessment, such as site discovery, evaluation consultation, and follow-up management, will be improved.
The’wind power environment evaluation team’ is formed within the Ministry of Environment to provide diagnostic services for the entire process of wind power development.
The Ministry of Environment will expand the carbon reduction support project for companies subject to the emission trading system. In 2021, support will be centered on reduction facilities with proven GHG reduction effects, and from 2022, support fields and quantities such as new renewable energy and waste pyrolysis facilities will be expanded significantly.
In addition, the target management system for small and medium-sized emission sources will be strengthened. The plan period for the target management system is extended from 1 year to 3 years, and systematic targets are given in conjunction with the national greenhouse gas reduction targets. Induce active participation in reduction by expanding sanctions against companies that do not comply with the target and by expanding incentives for companies that have exceeded the goal.
Fluorine-based greenhouse gas management will be strengthened. The Ministry of Environment is planning to prepare comprehensive measures for fluorine-based greenhouse gases in the first half of 2021, and plans to minimize leakage through expansion of facilities subject to mandatory refrigerant management and tracking and management of refrigerant distribution.
In addition, the introduction of a new management system (introduction of a labeling system, etc.) for fluorine-based greenhouse gases used for non-refrigerant purposes such as building foaming agents and fire extinguishing agents will be promoted.
The Ministry of Environment invested 14.2 billion won in 68 basic environmental facilities such as water purification plants to support the installation of renewable energy facilities, expand biogas production using organic waste resources (food, livestock manure, etc.) and supply hydrogen using them (designed at two sites). Also proceed.
We promote the achievement of the era of 300,000 pollution-free vehicles. Establish a convenient pollution-free vehicle charging station facility and prepare a long-term strategy for carbon neutrality in the transportation sector by 2050.
To this end, it is planning to achieve an era of 300,000 cumulative pollution-free vehicles this year by raising the goal of supplying low-emission vehicles by 18% in 2021 and mandatory purchase of non-polluting vehicles in the public sector.
More than 180 hydrogen charging stations will be built within this year through the discovery of new sites for hydrogen charging stations and special permits for the establishment of a pollution-free vehicle charging station facility that is convenient for the public.
It eliminates the blind spot of electric vehicle charging by constructing rapid electric vehicle chargers at mobile bases such as rest areas and gas stations. Along with this, the’transportation sector’s future vehicle transformation strategy’ will be prepared in the second half of this year and will be confirmed through discussions between relevant ministries.
Promote carbon-neutral green city projects. This project is a project to create a carbon-neutral model city that applies various environmental technologies and improves the constitution of all areas of the urban environment, and develops a standard model for each type that reflects the best practices of a smart green city and applies it to a carbon-neutral green city to serve as a base for regional carbon neutrality. I plan to develop it.
For carbon neutrality, public institutions are proactively promoting carbon neutrality. In order to implement the declaration of carbon neutrality, we establish a carbon neutral model suitable for the characteristics of institutions such as public buildings, public facilities, and public vehicles, and support the design and installation thereof.
The Siheung Water Purification Plant is proactively applying green technologies such as integrated building solar power generation (BIPV) to promote its spread to private facilities.
Reinforce management of the entire waste process, including reduction of production and consumption, expansion of recycling, and prohibition of direct landfilling, and prepare a step-by-step implementation plan for the transition to a circular economy society in 2050.
In order to reduce waste generation, a new target for reduction in basic units, which is the ratio of the amount of waste generated to product production or sales, will be established for large-discharged workplaces, and regulations on the use of disposable products will be strengthened.
In addition, the’Road Map for Circular Economy Innovation’ will be established in the second half of this year to realize a circular economy in all sectors of society.
Creation of a low-carbon industrial and technological ecosystem
The Ministry of Environment is planning to expand the number of ecological factories that promote the green transition by improving eco-friendly and low-carbon facilities from 11 in 2020 to 60 in 2022. In addition, it plans to establish a new evaluation item for the GHG reduction effect upon selection.
In addition, by providing preliminary consulting to companies that want to convert to eco-friendly and low-carbon, the company builds and operates a customized package support system.
Expand investment in highly effective carbon-neutral R&D. Plan for 6 projects with total project cost less than 50 billion won and reflect the budget, and devise plans for 4 projects on the scale.
In addition, cooperation for establishment and operation of the ’10 Carbon-neutral Technology Innovation Project Promotion Strategies’ and the’Carbon-neutral Technology Planning Committee’ supervised by the Ministry of Science and Technology will be strengthened.
Among the existing national R&D, we discover technologies that can be commercialized through follow-up projects and policy support, and support subsequent R&D promotion and commercialization. In addition, the discovery and designation of innovative products related to carbon neutrality will be expanded, and the purchase and commercialization of public institutions will be promoted.
Reinforcement of regional-led response to climate change
By mitigating the effects of climate change, we prepare adaptation measures to respond to health and natural disasters, and support the establishment of a carbon-neutral and climate adaptation system centered on local communities.
Using the multi-satellite Cheonrian No. 2, the basis for scientific monitoring and prediction of climate change will be laid, and the risk analysis due to the effects of climate change will be reinforced.
Flooding due to the climate crisis, such as establishing a flood risk map for local rivers, expanding the number of flood warning points from 66 to 75 in 2021, and creating a national drought vulnerability map that considers the frequency and sensitivity of drought by region (population, industry, etc.). ·Establish a preemptive response system to drought.
In addition, since the central government-led promotion of carbon neutrality does not take into account regional conditions, systematic support is provided to realize regional-led carbon neutrality.
With the aim of participating in the implementation of carbon neutrality by 243 local governments, local governments will be expanded to join the’Carbon Neutral Local Government Action Solidarity’, and joint participation in the’International Local Government Climate Action Proposal (Initiative)’ will be promoted.
Prepare legal grounds for establishing and implementing local government climate crisis response plans and adaptation measures, and promote comprehensive support for the establishment of plans and countermeasures.
Expansion of the foundation for a carbon-neutral system
The Ministry of Environment plans to reinforce climate impact reviews on major policies and development projects and introduce climate change impact assessments.
When implementing major national plans and development projects, an evaluation procedure has been prepared to take into account the impact on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and the legal basis is prepared within this year, and will be implemented in earnest in 2022. Currently, the National Assembly is discussing the Carbon Neutral Implementation Act (tentative name).
In addition, in cooperation with the Ministry of Technology, it will promote the creation of a climate response fund (tentative name) that will be used for research and development of science and technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by companies, support climate-sensitive areas and classes in response to the climate crisis.
We will raise the international status of carbon neutrality by successfully holding the’solidarity for green growth and global target 2030′ (hereinafter referred to as P4G) summit.
At the P4G event, carbon neutrality through green recovery, such as the Green New Deal, will be set as the core agenda of the Summit, and the’Seoul Declaration (tentative name)’ will be adopted to lead the global solidarity of the Green New Deal and carbon neutrality.
In addition, by attending the World Climate Summit scheduled to be held by the US government this year, Korea-US carbon-neutral environmental cooperation will be strengthened.
The G7 Climate and Environment Ministers’ Meeting (May), the G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting (July), and the 26th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (November) will take the lead in responding to the climate crisis.
Environment Minister Han Jeong-ae said, “As a leading ministry in carbon neutrality, the Ministry of Environment will build a foundation for carbon neutrality and promote the transformation of all sectors of society.”