Quantifying and Integrating Co-benefits of Renewable Energy Policies in South Korea

Abstract

Recently, South Korea announced it would make efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Korea already has been working to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with diverse policies and measures in many sectors. However, climate change is not the only environmental issue that is a concern for South Korea. Annual average PM_2.5 concentrations were 23μg/m³ in 2018 and 2019 (National Institute of Environmental Research 2020). National emission standards for PM_2.5 have been exeeded over 50 times in 2018 and 2019. It is expected that annual premature mortality associated with PM_2.5 will be the highest among Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries (OECD 2017). The South Korean government has to deal with these two serious environmental and health risks like many other countries. Co-control policies to reduce PM_2.5 and GHGs simultaneously therefore have become a priority for South Korea. Carefully designed co-control and co-benefit policies would help to resolve these problems in more cost-efficive manner. Policies that promote renewable energy have the potential to deliver these co-benefits. Increasing the share of renewable energy to replace coal-fired power generation is included in both South Korea’s Amendment to the Roadmap for the National GHG Reduction for 2030 and the Comprehensive Plan on Fine Dust Management.