[These Days] Fine Dust and Neighboring Countries and National Prestige

Fine dust fills the air in downtown Seoul. The forest of apartments across the bridge has vanished into the dust.
[Photo by YouTube screen capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), issues related to fine dust have not been as prominently discussed compared to previous years. However, once the spread of COVID-19 subsides, won't fine dust be the first issue to resurface?

East Asian countries, including Korea and China, are classified among the countries with the worst fine dust concentrations. Conversely, the countries with the lowest fine dust levels are in Europe.

In March 2019, Greenpeace compiled and ranked global ultrafine dust concentrations based on data from 2018. Korea's annual average ultrafine dust PM2.5 concentration in 2018 was 24 micrograms (㎍), ranking 27th among 73 countries worldwide. China, which has the greatest impact on Korea's air pollution, recorded 41㎍, ranking 12th, while Japan ranked 55th.

The top three were West Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, which are notorious for their deadly air pollution. On the other hand, countries with the best air quality included Iceland (73rd), Finland (72nd), Australia (71st), Estonia (70th), Sweden (69th), and Norway (68th). Even the UK (61st), Ireland (64th), Portugal (63rd), and Spain (62nd) ranked among the top countries.

Here, we need to point out a historical fact. In the 1950s and 1960s, European countries like the UK had much more severe fine dust pollution than today's China, India, and West Asian countries. Those European countries have now become the cleanest countries with almost no fine dust, earning admiration. What efforts have these European countries made?

European countries first established a mutual monitoring system between nations and promoted joint energy policies. In 1979, they signed the first multilateral environmental agreement (CLRTAP) to address transboundary air pollution, followed by the Geneva Protocol in 1984, which stipulated international cost-sharing for pollution reduction monitoring programs.

They successively signed the Helsinki Protocol in 1985, the Geneva Protocol in 1991, and the Aarhus Protocol in 1998, establishing a mutual monitoring system between countries. After stabilizing energy supply by creating a single energy market in Europe, they presented guidelines for environmental improvement. EU member states have consistently implemented policies to more than double the share of renewable energy.

The most representative policy is the 'vehicle emission regulation policy.' Since 1992, EU member states have managed vehicle emissions such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, enforcing regulations on PM10 fine dust that are about twice as strict as those in Korea.

The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and once a city shrouded in smog, London has become a city with cleaner air quality than Seoul.
[Photo by YouTube screenshot]

In Berlin, Germany, attaching Low Emission Zone (LEZ) stickers to polluting vehicles is mandatory, and in Munich, major bus routes have been replaced with electric buses. London declared a clean air zone restricting polluting vehicles from entering the city center and promoted efficient logistics movement policies, reducing empty truck trips by about 16% in 2016.

In Paris, France, bicycle lanes have been improved to transform the city into a bicycle-friendly city, and Milan, Italy, implemented the Ecopass system, charging tolls to vehicles violating emission standards, achieving about a 12% reduction in such vehicles within a year.

In Amsterdam, Netherlands, a city with relatively clean air quality, 'Tree wifi' devices that change color according to air pollution levels have been installed to raise public awareness of air pollution severity. Helsinki, Finland, integrated all transportation modes?buses, subways, shared cars, and shared bicycles?into an application called 'Whim,' which reduced vehicle-owning households to 60% in 2017 and aims to become a car-free city by 2025.

The severe air pollution in West Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India is attributed to their heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The combination of severe air pollution and climate change causes atmospheric stagnation, preventing fine dust from dispersing, resulting in an environmental disaster.

Scientists emphasize that policies to reduce air pollution and address climate change must proceed simultaneously to improve air quality. Reducing fossil fuel use and transitioning to renewable energy have the effect of suppressing both air pollution and climate change.

Europe's bicycle systems were not established from the beginning. They gradually took root as various promotion policies were implemented.
[Photo by YouTube screenshot]

Germany has declared plans to phase out coal and nuclear power, with renewable energy accounting for about 40%. Fossil fuel markets have already collapsed in Europe, and although the United States announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, it is reducing fossil fuel use.

However, it is regrettable that German car manufacturers have shown a double standard by manipulating vehicle emissions in Korea. Perhaps they underestimated Korea? Even China, which is globally criticized, invests the most money worldwide in renewable energy, and in India, renewable energy has become cheaper than coal-fired power generation.

In Korea, the government that declared the phase-out of nuclear power is frequently criticized, and domestic car manufacturers sell low-quality vehicles domestically while exporting high-quality ones. Even when the government pushes eco-friendly policies, the political and corporate sectors show double standards.

Neighboring countries like China and Japan, which are not exactly friendly neighbors, and the United States, once considered an ally, look down on Korea and impose various disadvantages. Moreover, European countries look down on Korea and export polluting vehicles. Beyond issues of national dignity and economic power, shouldn't we reflect on whether we are lowering our own status through these actions?

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.