Korea Is World 9th-largest CO₂ Emitter

Korea is the world’s ninth-largest carbon dioxide emitter, with its carbon emissions posting the largest growth in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at 113 percent between 1990 and 2007.

The country’s CO₂ emissions per capita have also seen a sharp increase.

The International Energy Agency yesterday released a report on CO₂ emissions fuel combustion as part of the International Energy Outlook 2009 on its Web site. Based on statistical data of 2007, the report contained climate-related issues and statistics on CO₂ emissions for each nation.

Korea remained the ninth-largest CO₂ emitter between 2006 and 2007 and sixth among OECD member nations, following China and the United States. Other nations on the world’s top 10 emitters list included Russia, India, Japan, Germany, Canada and Britain.

Korea’s annual per-capita CO₂ emissions were 10.1 tons for 23rd, up two notches from 2006 and rising from 11th to ninth in the OECD.

The reason for Korea’s rapid growth in CO₂ emissions is the manufacturing-driven industrial structure, which prevents sharp reduction of carbon emissions. Korea’s representative manufacturers such as steelmaker POSCO and shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries have achieved world-class energy efficiency.

The country was second in energy efficiency of the steelmaking industry and third in energy efficiency of the petrochemical industry.

In August, the Presidential Committee on Green Growth announced a mid-term plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Three scenarios suggested cutting greenhouse gas emissions 21 percent, 27 percent and 30 percent by 2020 compared to the “business-as-usual" emissions forecast, or the amount of greenhouse gases to be emitted if existing technology levels and greenhouse gas policies are maintained.

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