The whole world is hurrying to be ready for the climate change treaty, which takes effect on Wednesday. The European Union began a system of "greenhouse gasses emissions trading" at the start of the year. In response member countries are allotting emission carbon dioxide amounts for their domestic companies. Japan has significantly intensified its standards on automobiles, and required large companies to submit reports on their greenhouse gas emissions. The United States, which is criticized for withdrawing from the treaty, is working to reduce gas emissions, too. February 16 will be recorded as the historical day that ended the era in which you could use energy and emit greenhouse gasses however you wanted.
The Korean government has announced its own measures. By 2007 it will spend W21.5 trillion to build the structural basis for implementing the treaty, reducing greenhouse gasses, and helping adjust to climatic change. It has set 90 specific tasks for itself, including regulating how much energy government offices use, with the goal of 3 percent energy savings based on 2003 levels. The seriousness of the problem, however, is that Korea is at an extremely elementary stage of preparation. We need to reduce gas emissions, but right now the country has the highest rate of increase in emissions. It is believed Korea will be included in the countries that have to participate in the second reduction period that begins in 2013, but that is not the only problem. The pressure is already on, since products being exported to the European Union have to meet the EU's intensified environmental standards.
The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) has issued a report titled "The Effectuation of the Kyoto Protocol and the Corporate Response" which says the Korean economy could be paralyzed, and that is in no way an exaggeration. It notes that conglomerates are only barely prepared for the treaty taking effect, and that mid-sized companies are not working to be prepared at all. The problem at hand is a difficult but unavoidable one. Companies need to be active in preparing for what is coming, and not try to delay or avoid reducing gas emissions. The government must provide legal encouragement for conglomerates and support for mid-sized companies as they get ready.
The Hankyoreh, 15 February 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Get Ready for Climate Change Treaty |
