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| An oceans ministry official speaks during a press briefing at the Sejong Government Complex, Thursday. Yonhap |
By Lee Kyung-min
The government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the marine and fisheries sectors by 70 percent over the next eight years, as part of its overarching carbon neutrality drive to better respond to global climate change concerns, the oceans ministry said, Thursday.
Emissions will be reduced to 1.2 million tons by 2030, down 70 percent from the 4.06 million tons produced in 2018. The use of low-carbon and carbon-free energy sources will be expanded for enhanced energy efficiency.
The five-year plan seeks to align the policy focus of the global initiative better with heightened awareness of the seriousness of the climate crisis and the subsequent rapid progress made by Korea's global peers.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the fourth plan for 2021-2025 has outlined measures more specific to how the marine and fisheries sectors can reduce carbon emissions in their business operations.
"The new plan is about tangible ways to make a visible contribution with the introduction of eco-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels and the revision of laws governing the operation of ports nationwide," a ministry official said in a briefing at the Sejong Government Complex.
"This is marked progress from the third plan which mostly concerned emissions monitoring, technological development and plans to lower the total volume produced."
The ministry will continue commissioning research and development on low-carbon vessels run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and hybrid fuels by 2025. The commercial use of the eco-friendly means of maritime transport will begin in 2026.
The commercial viability of the green vessels will be fortified, as underpinned by continued research and development for the ultimate goal of leading the global maritime standard managed by the International Maritime Organization. The international agency under the United Nations is responsible for regulating shipping.
The ministry will establish marine plastic waste treatment system centers where recycled materials will be used as energy sources.
Coastal disasters prevention programs will be fortified, as engineered and reviewed by researchers with expertise in monitoring and analysis of weather conditions.
A medium- to long-term marine climate change risk management plan will be established by 2026, mostly by strengthening polar region research related closely to frequent abnormal weather conditions including typhoons, as well as extreme cold and heat waves.
"The government will turn carbon neutrality into a new growth opportunity not only for the affected industry but also for the entire country, while protecting the lives and livelihoods of marine and fisheries industry workers and the public at large," the ministry official said.
