S. Korea aims to lead global climate change agenda: official

SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's plan to drastically cut its greenhouse
gas emissions by 2020 reflects its desire to lead the ongoing global talks on
climate change, a key Cabinet minister in charge of the issue said Tuesday.
The government unveiled its plan last month to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30
percent from its expected level in 2020. This would be equivalent to reducing the
country's "business-as-usual" (BAU) emissions by 4 percent from its 2005 level.
"When Korea says it will go for a 30 percent reduction of 2020 BAU, it is a very
bold move," Knowledge Economy Minister Choi Kyung-hwah said at a luncheon meeting
with foreign journalists based in Seoul, noting that his government has chosen
the highest figure available for a group of countries under the so-called
"non-annex 1" category.
Non-Annex 1 countries refer to those that are not required to cut emission
outputs under the Kyoto Protocol regime.
"If you compare reduction goals among advanced economies, you would see Korea is
making a very significant reduction -- equal to or even larger than those of
advanced countries like Japan," Choi said.
Choi warned, however, that South Korea should not be compared with such fully
advanced countries as the United States, Japan and the European Union in terms of
the issue.
He insisted that South Korea must be seen as a developing economy when it comes
to the issue of greenhouse emission cuts.
"Since 1990, Korea has seen the amount of its carbon emissions increase 100
percent, while these fully developed countries saw a decline or a far smaller
rate of increase," he said.
The minister stressed that this difference between South Korea -- which is still
growing and requires more energy -- and those that are already mature must be
seen differently. Mature economies can better cut emission levels without hurting
their industries, he said.
The minister added that in order to meet such conflicting goals, his government
plans to use a mix of incentives and regulations to make companies more clean,
green and competitive.
"A balance must be reached between incentives and reduction efforts so as not to
seriously hurt the country's competitiveness," he said, adding that he is aware
of complaints being raised by industries over the government goal to cut carbon
emissions.
In connection with the case, the official said Seoul plans to take steps that are
bearable to local industries.
Local industries have warned that South Korea's overall industrial
competitiveness will be hurt when larger emerging markets like China do not take
similar measures to cut carbon emissions.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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