Topic: Encouraging Alternative Energy
Country: South Korea
Delegate Name: Meghana Ranabothu
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Korea position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
The increase of carbon emissions can create weather catastrophes, food shortages, and a rise in sea levels. A way to decrease carbon emissions is by relying on and encouraging the use of alternative energy. By 2014, Korean carbon emissions have exceeded 600 million metric tons, making the country one of the largest contributor of greenhouse gases. Due to electricity production, industry, and residential areas burning fossil fuels for heat, the carbon emission levels became high over the last few years. The Republic of Korea has been actively collaborating with and seeking advice from UNEP. In 2009, at the 64th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, president Lee Myung-bak stated, “The underlying objective of the Low Carbon Green Growth strategy is to promote sustainable development, by putting in place a positive cycle in which the environment revives the economy and the economy preserves the environment.” The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been promoting renewable energy. In June 2015, the Republic of Korea submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, targeting reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 37% below business-as-usual (BAU) emissions by 2030.
In 2009, the government announced the Green Growth strategy, which is a plan to reduce carbon emissions and also promote renewable energy. UNEP provided a report on the country’s National Strategy for Green Growth and discussed the plans that the country has put in place to achieve this vision. With initial funding of $83.6 billion (representing 2 percent of GDP), the Republic of Korea’s first Five-Year Plan (2009-2013) for Green Growth has doubled the generation of energy from renewable sources. The Republic of Korea demonstrated engagement in the international level by boosting efforts towards establishing a green economy in other countries. East Asia Climate Partnership, led by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, tries to help resolve climate change in developing countries and promotes green growth in Asia. In 1999, the basic plan for restructuring the electricity industry privatized Korea Electric Power Corporation. As a result, five thermal generation companies, one hydropower, and one nuclear energy corporation were formed in April 2001. Created in 2008, Korea Carbon Finance manages the national carbon market. Korea is part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international environmental treaty that tries to stabilize the amount of greenhouse emissions.
In 2015, the Republic of Korea's Emissions Trading System imposed a limit on companies that discharged 125,000 tons or more carbon annually. In the Republic of Korea, renewable energy is promoted by supplementary payments, tax exemptions for dividends, and long-term loans for manufacturing facilities. The Republic of Korea is also playing a leading role in green-growth policy advising. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), founded in 2010 in the Republic of Korea as a NGO, works to advance the practice of green growth by supporting the development of the strategies in developing and emerging countries. Other countries should follow the Republic of Korea in order to improve their energy system with renewable energy. The countries should work together with UNEP and GGGI to increase alternative energy sources and diminish the negative impacts of carbon emissions.
