Fine Dust Reduced by 16% Through Seasonal Management System... "Strengthening Measures for Frequent High Concentration in March"

On the 18th, the sky viewed from the 63 Observatory in Seoul was clear. The fine dust concentration ranged from 'Moderate' to 'Good'. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] From December last year to February this year, when the seasonal fine dust management system was implemented, the nationwide concentration of ultrafine dust (PM2.5) decreased by 16% compared to the previous year. The government announced that it will expand the reduction of coal power generation this month and implement restrictions on the operation of grade 5 emission vehicles mainly through promotion and guidance.

On the 2nd, the government announced the progress of the seasonal fine dust management system and the strengthened measures for March through a joint press release from related ministries. The government is implementing the seasonal fine dust management system, which strengthens the fine dust response system comprehensively in power generation, industry, and transportation sectors from December to March of the following year, when high concentrations are expected.

Ultrafine dust decreased by 16% from December to February... Ministry of Environment credits "weather conditions and seasonal management system"

According to the Ministry of Environment, the nationwide average ultrafine dust concentration from December last year to February this year decreased by about 16% (5㎍/㎥) compared to the same period last year.

The number of days with 'good' fine dust levels doubled (from 10 to 20 days), the number of 'bad' days decreased by 13% (from 24 to 21 days), and the number of high concentration days dropped by more than 80%, from 11 days to 2 days.

The hourly maximum concentration, an indicator that can evaluate instantaneous high concentration intensity, decreased by about 28% (79㎍/㎥).

Regarding this, the Ministry of Environment stated, "The result is due to a combination of changes in external factors such as weather conditions and the effect of domestic emission reductions following the implementation of the seasonal management system."

In terms of weather conditions, precipitation and wind direction acted favorably, and the seasonal management system showed greater effects in Chungnam, Jeonnam, and Gyeongbuk regions, where industrial facilities such as coal power plants and steel mills are concentrated.

An official from the Ministry of Environment said, "If the seasonal management system had not been implemented, there would have been cases where the ultrafine dust concentration in Chungnam would have been higher by about 8㎍/㎥ to 40㎍/㎥. The number of bad days would also have been one day more nationwide and up to four days more in Chungnam and Gyeongbuk regions."

Regarding the monthly average concentration, it was analyzed that Gyeongbuk would have been up to 2.9㎍/㎥ higher (December), Chungnam up to 2.0㎍/㎥ higher (January), and Jeonnam up to 1.5㎍/㎥ higher (December to January). When these reduction effects are converted to the nationwide average concentration for December to January, it showed a decrease of at least 0.2㎍/㎥ and up to 1.0㎍/㎥.

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The government plans to comprehensively monitor and analyze China's weather and ultrafine dust concentration situation.

Recently, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that the average ultrafine dust concentration across China in January decreased by about 3% compared to last year (66㎍/㎥ → 64㎍/㎥). However, during the same period, the average concentration in the Jing-Jin-Ji area (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei) and surrounding regions close to South Korea increased by 10.2% compared to last year (108㎍/㎥ → 119㎍/㎥).

In this regard, the China Air Pollution Prevention Union Center announced that high concentration fine dust occurred in January due to continuous operation of high-emission industries such as thermal power generation and steel, as well as meteorological influences such as stagnant air. It also stated that the reduction in fine dust emissions due to COVID-19 was limited to transportation and light industry sectors.

Frequent high concentrations in March, strengthened fine dust response... Cho Myung-rae: "Successful completion of seasonal management system"

March is the month with the highest ultrafine dust concentration throughout the year. Accordingly, the government plans to implement stronger fine dust measures to fully protect public health.

First, in the power generation sector, the number of coal-fired power plants to be shut down will be expanded from the existing 8 to 15 units (December to February) to 21 to 28 units. The remaining coal power plants will also be subject to an upper limit system restricting output to 80% for up to 37 units.

In the industrial sector, voluntary reductions by large business sites will be further encouraged, and monitoring of illegal emissions from business sites will be strengthened. To eradicate illegal emissions from business sites, the number of personnel in the joint public-private inspection team will be expanded to 1,000.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

In addition to advanced monitoring equipment such as drones, mobile measurement vehicles, and unmanned airships, three additional Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras will be deployed to intensively crack down on petrochemical companies with high emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Although the public vehicle two-day operation system was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 response, restrictions on the operation of grade 5 vehicles in the metropolitan area will be implemented mainly through promotion and guidance. The government plans to promptly complete amendments to the Fine Dust Act and related ordinances, which provide the legal basis for the operation restrictions on grade 5 vehicles, within March.

Furthermore, the slow-speed navigation program currently implemented at Busan, Incheon, Yeosu-Gwangyang, and Ulsan ports will be expanded to special vessels such as car carriers in addition to general cargo ships.

March has been designated as the intensive management period for illegal rural burning, and 329 joint inspection teams nationwide will conduct on-site guidance and crackdowns. The period for intensive collection of agricultural waste such as waste vinyl and waste pesticide containers will also be implemented early starting this month.

Air purification devices have been installed in all classrooms of approximately 270,000 elementary, middle, high, and special schools nationwide, and thorough measures will be taken to protect student health through inspections led by the Ministry of Education and comprehensive inspections by each city and province.

The detailed implementation plan for the Blue Sky Plan Memorandum of Understanding signed between the environment ministers of Korea and China last November will be finalized through a video conference this month, and policy cooperation such as sharing the results of the seasonal management system implementation between the two countries will be expanded.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae said, "Since high concentration fine dust can occur at any time depending on weather conditions, we will tighten our efforts throughout March to successfully complete the seasonal fine dust management system."

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