SEOUL — South Korea's efforts towards carbon neutrality appear to be bearing fruit as preliminary estimates indicate a decline in greenhouse gas emissions for the second consecutive year in 2023.
According to Yonhap News Agency, emissions within the energy transition sector saw a significant reduction to 203.7 million tons in 2023, down by 4.8 percent from 219.3 million tons in 2022. The industrial sector also reported a slight decrease in emissions, from 245.8 million tons in 2022 to 244.7 million tons last year, marking a 0.4 percent fall.
Given that the energy transition and industrial sectors combined contribute to approximately 70 percent of the nation's total emissions, the overall decline in these areas suggests a nationwide reduction in greenhouse gas outputs for the second year running. This trend reflects South Korea's progressive shift towards sustainable energy sources and cleaner industrial practices.
The decrease in emissions within the energy transition sector is largely credited to an increased adoption of renewable energy sources and nuclear power generation. Meanwhile, the industrial sector's reduction is linked to various corporate initiatives, including the decommissioning of outdated blast furnaces.
Furthermore, the building and transportation sectors also recorded decreases in emissions by 6.4 percent and 2.9 percent, totaling 45.2 million tons and 95 million tons, respectively. This comprehensive downturn across multiple sectors highlights South Korea's advancing strides towards achieving carbon neutrality and reducing its environmental footprint amid global climate change challenges.