First Step Toward Carbon Neutrality: 'Creating a Roadmap for Carbon Dioxide Utilization'

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] As the government declared its entry into the carbon-neutral era by 2050, it has begun establishing a roadmap to secure Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technology. The Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Environment announced on the 24th that they will release a roadmap for the demonstration and commercialization of CCU technology in the first half of next year.

CCU technology involves capturing carbon dioxide emitted from greenhouse gas sources such as industrial facilities and power plants, then converting it into resources or useful substances for utilization. It is an essential technology for achieving carbon neutrality as it reduces greenhouse gases while producing materials necessary for our lives.

The CCU roadmap is broadly divided into four areas: capture, utilization, industrial strategy, and policy/institution. The government will form a review committee to assess greenhouse gas reduction effects and outcomes, and establish support measures for CCU technology development and commercialization strategies. In particular, considering that a methodology for calculating greenhouse gas reduction through CCU technology has not yet been established, an objective verification system for reduction effects resulting from technology commercialization will be put in place.

The government stated, "Based on this roadmap, we plan to contribute to achieving the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for greenhouse gas reduction and to actively promote core technology development and commercialization of CCU for the transition to a carbon-neutral society."

Professor Jaehyun Kim of Kongju National University (former president of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology), who serves as the private sector chairman for this roadmap establishment, said, "While reducing greenhouse gas emissions is important for carbon neutrality, economically managing emitted carbon is also crucial. We expect this roadmap to be thoroughly developed to strategically secure CCU technology and to serve as an opportunity for South Korea to proactively respond to climate change."

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