Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development in Northeast Asia

1. Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development in Northeast Asia DR. KIM Myung Ja Member of the Korean National Assembly Former Minister of Environment (1999-2003)

2. CONTENTS 1. Global Environmental Issues 2. Northeast Asian Environmental Issues 3. Global Efforts to Resolve Environmental Issues 4. Korea’s Sustainable Development Efforts 5. Future Policy Directions for Sustainable Development 2

3. 1. Global Environmental Issues In the Past Impact from environmental pollution waslimited to local areas Present Environmental issues are growing in complexity expanding beyond national boundaries requiring collective action 3

4. Present Environmental concerns intricately linked to social arena, including economy and trade Environment emerged as a top agenda item for the international community, exerting substantial influence on government decision-making 4

5. Global Environmental Issues A. Global Warming and extreme weather patterns Excessive use of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum increase in the level of carbon dioxide CO2 in the atmosphere (early industrialization period: 280ppm →1990: 363ppm) aggravating climate change Submersion of low-elevation areas and extreme weather patterns such as flood, drought, and heavy snowstorms are occurring with frequency. 5

6. Due to ozone-depleting substances like CFCs, more than half of the ozone layer above the South Pole (320 times the size of the Republic of Korea) has been destroyed in the last 10 years - Increased amount of ultraviolet radiation reaches earth’s surface, leading to higher instances of skin cancer, eye ailments, weakening of the human immune system. B. Destruction of ozone layer 6

7. C. Biodiversity loss ! risk of extinction ! 14% of existing plant species (242,000 in total) 33% of existing fish species (24,000 in total) 11% of existing bird species (9,600 in total) 14% of mammalian species (4,400 in total) Ecosystem balance and the capacity for natural purification are lost, along with the potential benefits of biological resources. 7

8. D. Exposure to harmful chemical substances Dangers arising from the increased use of various chemical substances on human health and biological organisms Increasing endocrine disruptors (environmental hormones), disturb regular hormonal activities in human body 8

9. 2. Northeast Asian Environmental Issues Northeast Asia One of the most economically vibrant regions in the world - Expansion of economic activities - Environmental problems (air pollution, poor water quality, marine pollution, destruction of the natural environment) Rapid desertification and dust and sandstorms from Inner Mongolia and the western part of China (phenomena closely linked to global warming) require extensive remediation and prevention efforts 9

10. Republic of Korea Rapid economic growth since the 1960s - Substantial air and water pollution Social overhead capital (SOC) construction projects such as large-scale housing, industrial zone developments, roads and dams - Destruction and loss of natural ecosystems Similar problems are now seen in China and other countries in Northeast Asia, which are currently undertaking intensive industrialization 10

11. Republic of Korea Small landmass, high population density, and scarce water resources Highest level of environmental pressures per unit area among OECD member countries To ensure environmental sustainability, Sound national policies for efficient use of land, energy, and other natural resources are necessary 11

12. Republic of Korea Environmental problems: closely linked to land use and land management measures Vicious cycle Reckless development that ignores the values of the natural environment natural ecosystem degradation deterioration of the living environment increased cost to society 12

13. Republic of Korea 65.4% of national territory consists of forests outstanding natural ecosystems but limited land for urban settlement Supply-oriented land development policies Severe damage of natural ecosystems such as Baek-du mountain range (ecological backbone of the Korea) Between 1992 and 2001, approximately 1.32 billion square meters had been developed, while 1.88 billion square meters of forests, farmland and tidal flats had disappeared. 13

14. 3. Global Environmental Protection Efforts o Environmental preservation activities began in the 1970s. - UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972) & establishment of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) - “Sustainable Development" (1987): Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs - UN Conference on Environment and Development (1992) - World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) 14

15. Regionally, Environmental cooperation through such mechanisms as the annual Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM) has been initiated. Asia-Pacific Forum on Environment & Development (APFED) - August 23-24, Adelaide, Australia 15

16. Regional Environment Efforts In February 2003, the project to tackle dust and sandstorms began among Korea, China, Japan, and Mongolia as well as international agencies like UNEP, ADB and GEF. The Northeast Asia Environmental Cooperation Mid- to Long-Term Roadmap: Tumen River Basin Environmental Preservation Project Northeast Asian Sub-regional Programme of Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC) Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO-ASIA) 16

17. Korea’s Master Plan for Environmental Policy in 2004 • Special measures to improve air quality in capital region • Protection of human health from hazardous substances • Total water pollution load management • Strengthening waste resource management Creation of Pleasant Env’t • Development of sustainable technologies for 21st C • Promotion of green corporate management Harmonization of Env’t & Economy • Establishment of eco-friendly land use system • Protection of ecosystem in Korean peninsula Establishment of Eco-Network • Active participation in global env’t effort • 2004 UNEP Meeting Global Env’t Preservation 17

19. Urban Air Quality Improvement Special Act on Air Quality Improvement in Capital Region Before After OECD Average (NO2 in Seoul : 22ppb) Target Among the Lowest in OECD(NO2 in Seoul : 36ppb) Concentration Control for Each Pollution Medium Support for Diffusion of Low-emission Vehicles Total Local Emissions Load Management Emissions Trading Permit in Industrial Plants Obligatory Use of Low- Emission Vehicles Policy Tools Estimated Budget Allocated Budget for 2003: 85.8 Billion Won Plan to Invest 6 Trillion Won in Next 10 Years 18

20. Water Source Quality Improvement and Demand-Side Management Special Acts on Water Management of 4 Rivers Integrated Management of 4 Major Domestic Rivers • Han River (1999.8) • Nakdong, Geum & Yeongsan Rivers (2002.7) Water Pollution Prevention Spirit of Mutual Prosperity Non-point Pollution Source Management Riparian buffer zones, industrial location restriction Land purchase Total water pollution load management 420 discussions Collaboration btw. local residents and government Water User Fee imposition in lower stream region, support to upstream region Non-point pollution source management 24-hour monitoring network & scientific water quality modeling River ecosystem restoration Precautionary Watershed Management System 19

21. Resource-Circulating Waste Management Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) System Objective : Reduce waste & facilitate recycling by producers Date of Enforcement : 2003. 1 Producers Responsibility : Soundly dispose of mandatory waste recycling volume either directly or through commission (impose charges in case of non-compliance) <Expected Effects> 394 billion won annually Reduction in waste treatment fees : 332 billion won Business cost reduction : 62 billion won 20

22. Volume-Based Waste Fee System Use of special garbage bags Promote recycling Reduce the volume of waste through economic incentives - 45%  in waste generation - 115%  in recycling - $ 4 billion in socio-economic benefits Charge collection fees based on the volume of waste disposed 21

23. Natural Environment Preservation Harmony btw. Development & Preservation- Preventing Reckless Land Development Precautionary National Land Preservation Comprehensive Plan on National Land Management Set Priority Targets on National Land Management Initiate Full-Scale Survey of the National Land Environment Consolidating National Land Protection Measures Prior Env’t Performance Assessment Greening the New Administrative Capital Green space, env’t friendly transportation system Energy & resources saving Preservation of natural sceneries, prior review National land env’t evaluation map Strategic Env’t Assessment Reinforcement of Env’t Impact Assessment 22

24. The DMZ Small islands Establishment of Ecological Network Protection of ecosystem in the Korean peninsula Baek-du Mountain Range ㅇ Working to designate the Demilitarized Zone as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve ㅇ Creation of a nationwide ecological network by enacting Baek-du Mountain Range Preservation Act (Dec ’03) ㅇ Enactment of “Act on the Protection of Wild Fauna and Flora” (Dec ’03) urban areas rural area urban areas rivers 23

25. FOREST DESTRUCTION - Japanese occupation and Korean War - excessive logging, forest reclamation o “Tree Planting Campaign” (1973) By 2000, 2 million hectares (31%) of the total mountain surface into economically valuable forest tracts. o “Nature Recess Program” (1991) Rehabilitate their ecosystems by limiting public entrance for a specified period of time. 24

26. To promote voluntary environmental improvement activities in the industrial sector: - “Environmentally Friendly Enterprise Designation System” (as of end of 2002, 133 enterprises have been designated) - “Voluntary Environmental Agreement System”(as of end of 2002, 351 enterprises have signed the agreement) - Enterprise Environment Report, Environmental Cost Accounting, Environmental Performance Evaluation Index and other such guidelines on a trial basis Promotion of Green Corporate Management 25

27. 5. Future Policy Directions for Sustainable Development Industrialization era: focus on material fulfillment 21st century: era for eco-civilization based on sustainable development - Create a win-win era for the entire ecological community where humanity and nature, environment and economy coexist Current culture of excessive consumerism - Sustainable culture based on responsibility and efficiency 26

28. For the achievement of establishing a sustainable culture Government: integrate one-sided SOC expansion policies that are development-centered with policies aimed at sustainability and eco-efficiency Business sector: clean production and environmental management system. Industries, companies, governments, and the public: Collective quest for sustainable development Continuous dialogue and cooperation Symbiotic relationship through reliable administrative and institutional support 27

29. Thank You ! 28