In June This Year, 'Sector- and Timing-Specific Reduction Targets' Will Be Included in the Emission Reduction Scenario for '2050 Carbon Neutrality'

Ministry of Environment, 2021 Work Plan

Raising 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets and Establishing Carbon Neutrality Implementation Foundations Including Climate Change Impact Assessment
Establishing Plastic Reduction Systems Such as Pre-Inspection of Excessive Packaging and Mandatory Use of Transparent PET Bottles
Installation of 100 Hydrogen Chargers and 30,000 Electric Chargers
Early Achievement of Ultra-Fine Dust Concentration at 18㎍/㎥

Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae (file photo)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] This year, the Ministry of Environment will prepare measures to implement carbon neutrality. Based on the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Promotion Strategy' jointly announced by the government last December, the ministry plans to establish and announce the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario' by June and the 'Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technology Innovation and Implementation Plan (Roadmap) through Emissions Trading System' by the end of this year. The carbon neutrality scenario is expected to include sector-specific and time-specific reduction pathways.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Environment announced the '2021 Work Report' containing these details.

Under the vision of 'Carbon Neutrality that Citizens Can Feel and Preparing for the Future,' the Ministry of Environment selected three major tasks: ▲ Establishing a foundation for carbon neutrality implementation ▲ Creating tangible results from the Green New Deal ▲ Building a public environmental safety net, and prepared detailed plans accordingly.

The core of establishing a foundation for carbon neutrality implementation is the carbon neutrality scenario and the greenhouse gas reduction technology innovation roadmap. In the process of creating the carbon neutrality scenario, the ministry plans to derive sector-specific and time-specific reduction pathways and collect stakeholder opinions based on them. Using this, it intends to raise the 2030 reduction targets within the Moon Jae-in administration's term. Specifically, it will promote the establishment of a scenario that includes ▲ significant expansion of renewable energy and large-scale grid infrastructure investment ▲ carbon dioxide utilization and storage technology (CCUS) linked to fossil fuel (LNG) power generation ▲ active utilization of low-carbon technologies such as green hydrogen. Additionally, it will strengthen institutional foundations for carbon neutrality by promoting the establishment of a climate response fund (jointly with related ministries) and the Carbon Comprehensive Information Research Center (tentative name).

Greenhouse gas reduction by sector through 'transition to a plastic-free society' will also be pursued. By reducing the use of disposable products and packaging through pre-inspection of excessive packaging, mandating transparent PET bottle materials, and promoting the use of recycled raw materials, the ministry plans to reduce greenhouse gases in the waste sector by 19% compared to 2017 through the transition to a plastic-free society. Furthermore, it will realize the era of mass adoption of future vehicles (electric and hydrogen vehicles) and rapidly induce reductions in internal combustion engine vehicles by expanding early retirement of old diesel vehicles.

The ministry will also strengthen climate change adaptation capabilities (climate resilience) across all social sectors. It will establish a system to monitor the implementation of climate change adaptation measures and prepare procedures for climate change impact assessments for planning, financial projects, and development projects. Additionally, it will create natural flood mitigation facilities such as riverside retention basins to build a flood prevention and response system for the climate crisis and promptly provide relief for flood damage that occurred last year. Ecosystem risk management due to climate change will also be strengthened.

To create tangible results from the Green New Deal, the ministry plans to achieve the era of 300,000 future vehicles this year and newly install more than 30,000 electric chargers and 100 hydrogen chargers. On the demand side, it will require public institutions to purchase more than 80% of new vehicles as future vehicles and encourage private companies to voluntarily convert 100% of their fleet to future vehicles by 2030. On the supply side, it will raise the clean vehicle (electric, hydrogen, hybrid) supply target of automobile manufacturers from 15% in 2020 to 18% in 2021 (10% electric and hydrogen vehicles) to promote the transition to future vehicles. To alleviate electric vehicle charging inconveniences, it will build and utilize an optimal location system to strategically place chargers and expand ultra-fast chargers that are more than three times faster than existing ones. To expand hydrogen charging stations (cumulative 180 stations), it will establish a nationwide deployment plan and promote special permits for approval and licensing, as well as fuel cost support for operators.

It will also promote the creation of 30,000 green jobs through support for 420 promising green companies and carbon neutrality research and development (R&D) in five major fields. Priority support will be given to green companies possessing carbon neutrality technologies, and as regional hubs for fostering green industries, strategies for five major green convergence clusters?▲ clean air ▲ bio-materials ▲ thermal energy ▲ waste batteries ▲ resource circulation (plastic reduction)?will be prepared, while providing concentrated support for promising green companies from market development to overseas expansion.

The Ministry of Environment will also focus its capabilities on 'building a public environmental safety net.' It plans to continue the trend of improving fine dust by reducing ultra-fine dust concentration to 18㎍/㎥ (the 2022 target of the 2017 comprehensive fine dust measures). To strengthen integrated water management and natural-based environmental services, it will finalize the Nakdong River integrated water management plan within the year to resolve conflicts over water use between regions, accelerate the restoration of naturalness in rivers through comprehensive plans for the Geumgang and Yeongsangang Rivers, and improve river-crossing structures.

Proactive responses to waste management risk factors, which are expected to expand due to the COVID-19 economic downturn, will also be pursued. It will mandate public responsibility collection and price linkage systems to prevent interruptions in recyclable waste collection, strengthen monitoring to prevent incineration facility saturation due to the surge in COVID-19 medical waste, and implement emergency response plans if necessary. Additionally, it will require recyclers to install closed-circuit televisions and mandate GPS installation on transporter vehicles to prevent additional illegal or abandoned waste generation. The ministry also plans to reduce the amount of waste brought to the metropolitan landfill by 60% by 2026 and resolve metropolitan landfill issues through alternative landfill site competitions.

Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae said, "2021 will be the first year of the transition to carbon neutrality," adding, "The Ministry of Environment will take the lead in establishing the foundation for implementing carbon neutrality by 2050 and creating tangible results from the Green New Deal."

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