Greenpeace: "Korea to Gain 1.44 Million Net Jobs by Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] A study has found that if South Korea transitions its energy structure to 100% renewable energy by 2050, there will be a net increase of 1.44 million jobs.

On the 19th, Greenpeace announced that according to the report titled "The Impact of Green New Deal Energy Policies on Power Supply Stability, Costs, Jobs, Health, and Climate in South Korea," co-authored by a joint research team from Stanford and UC Berkeley, it is analyzed that if South Korea transitions its energy structure to 100% renewable energy by 2050, more than 1.44 million jobs will be created on a net basis.

The scale of renewable energy facilities is expected to be 479 gigawatts (GW) of large-scale solar power plants installed on land or water, 319 GW of offshore wind power, and 119 GW of solar power plants installed on rooftops of government offices and commercial buildings by 2050.

It is estimated that supplying 100% of domestic energy demand with renewable energy will cost about 1.9 trillion dollars (approximately 2,100 trillion won) by 2050. About 6.5% of the national land is expected to be required for constructing solar power plants and other facilities.

Jobs are also expected to increase. It is analyzed that 742,595 jobs will be newly created in the construction sector and 888,763 jobs in the operation sector. Meanwhile, 189,298 jobs in the fossil fuel industry are expected to disappear. Accordingly, a total net increase of 1,442,060 jobs is projected.

Energy expenditure is also expected to decrease. By 2050, private sector energy costs are analyzed to decrease by 41% compared to now.

Mark Jacobson, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, said, "We must transition all energy consumed across society to 80% clean renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2050," adding, "Production of internal combustion engine vehicles should be stopped, and new fossil fuel power plants should not be built."

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