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South Korea has been facing a significant air pollution crisis, with its capital, Seoul, being named one of the cities with the worst air pollution in the world. The country's air pollution is a public health crisis, with about 4 billion people in Asia and the Pacific exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has partnered with local Korean governments to combat this issue. This partnership is part of UNEP's broader effort to combat air pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. UNEP supports the development of national and subnational action plans and policies on air quality while aiding in the reduction of pollution from sectors like transport. In addition, the UN has been working with South Korea to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants and integrate green growth into their national strategy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| UN partnership | UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) |
| Countries involved | South Korea, China |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Aim | To combat air pollution |
| Methods | 5G-enabled robots, satellite data, reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, switching to renewable energy sources, waste management and recycling |
| Investment | $9 billion between 2007 and 2020 |
| SDG goals | SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable |
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What You'll Learn
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is partnering with the Republic of Korea's Capital Metropolitan Area to improve air quality
- UNEP-managed forums, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly, help spread best practices
- South Korea has been dedicating around 2% of its GDP annually to reducing emissions, almost double the UN-suggested amount
- The UNEP and Climate and Clean Air Coalition identified 25 solutions to deliver wins for climate and pollution in the Asia-Pacific region
- The UN supports South Korea's waste management and recycling, encouraging waste reuse as an energy resource
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is partnering with the Republic of Korea's Capital Metropolitan Area to improve air quality
The Republic of Korea, and particularly its capital city of Seoul, has been facing severe air pollution issues. Seoul is one of the world's cities with the worst air pollution, with higher mean PM10 levels from 2009 to 2013 than Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, and London. The mean exposure of the population to a toxic particle known as PM2.5 is the highest of any state in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The partnership with the Capital Metropolitan Area, which includes Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province, will help officials expand their efforts to tackle air pollution and share their best practices with other regions. The Republic of Korea has already made significant progress in reducing air pollution, with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in the Capital Metropolitan Region decreasing since 2003 due to reduced emissions. Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi governments invested US$9 billion on air quality management between 2007 and 2020, with 56% of the funding focused on reducing emissions from the transport sector.
UNEP supports the development of national and subnational action plans and policies on air quality, helping to reduce pollution from key sectors such as transport. In 2018, UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition identified 25 measures to address the main sources of fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone in the Asia-Pacific region. These include switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency in transport and industry. The Republic of Korea has recognized that these measures will be key to achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
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UNEP-managed forums, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly, help spread best practices
South Korea has been battling air pollution, which has been a growing concern for the country, impacting health, the environment, and the economy. The country has been dedicating around 2% of its GDP annually to combat this issue. The United Nations, through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has been partnering with local Korean governments to address this problem.
The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world's highest-level decision-making body for environmental matters. It sets global environmental policies and international environmental laws. The assembly comprises representatives from all 193 member states, and its sessions are organized as five-day events, attracting heads of state and governments. The assembly's sessions provide an open dialogue with the Executive Director of UNEP, facilitating interactions on various topics raised by major groups and stakeholders.
UNEP's partnership with the Capital Metropolitan Area of South Korea, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province, aims to improve air quality in the region and share best practices with other areas facing similar challenges. This cooperation has resulted in a decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations due to reduced emissions. The use of 5G-enabled autonomous robots and satellites to monitor air quality is also part of South Korea's arsenal to combat air pollution.
Through these UNEP-managed forums and partnerships, the United Nations is helping South Korea tackle its air pollution crisis and supporting the country in sharing its successful strategies with other regions. These efforts are crucial in addressing the public health crisis caused by unhealthy levels of air pollution in Asia and the Pacific, with about 4 billion people affected.
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South Korea has been dedicating around 2% of its GDP annually to reducing emissions, almost double the UN-suggested amount
South Korea has been battling air pollution, which has been a threat to its people and the environment. The country has the worst air quality among the 35 richest countries in the OECD. The capital, Seoul, is one of the world's cities with the worst air pollution, with PM10 levels higher than in many large metropolitan cities worldwide.
To combat this issue, South Korea has been dedicating around 2% of its GDP annually (approximately 23 billion USD) to reducing emissions, almost double the amount suggested by the UN. This substantial investment has been critical to improving air quality. Between 2007 and 2020, the Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi governments invested US$9 billion in air quality management, with 56% focused on reducing emissions from the transport sector.
The government has also implemented various measures to tackle air pollution. In 2003, the Special Act on Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement was enacted, targeting priority pollutants such as PM10, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles to inspect factory emissions in Seoul's greater metropolitan area is also part of a pilot program.
In addition, South Korea has been actively integrating green growth into its national strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and the unnecessary usage of non-renewable energy. Private investments have also played a crucial role, with approximately 30 South Korean companies investing 13.6 billion USD in NRE technologies, positively impacting GHG emissions reductions.
The partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Republic of Korea's Capital Metropolitan Area, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province, is another significant step. This collaboration aims to expand efforts to address air pollution and share best practices with other regions. The UNEP supports the development of action plans and policies on air quality while helping to reduce pollution from sectors like transport.
South Korea's dedication to reducing emissions, with significant investments and partnerships, demonstrates its commitment to improving air quality and addressing the health and environmental impacts of air pollution.
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The UNEP and Climate and Clean Air Coalition identified 25 solutions to deliver wins for climate and pollution in the Asia-Pacific region
South Korea has been facing a significant air pollution problem, particularly in its capital, Seoul, which has some of the worst air quality of any major city in the world. The country's rapid industrialization has led to increased transport, industry, waste, and electricity production, all contributing to higher air pollution levels. The pollution has impacted outdoor sports and led to economic losses of about $9 billion annually, with predictions that this figure will double by 2060.
To tackle this issue, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has partnered with local Korean governments, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, to combat air pollution. This collaboration is part of UNEP's broader effort to address air pollution in the Asia-Pacific region, which affects around 4 billion people.
UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition have identified 25 solutions to deliver wins for climate and pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. These solutions include:
- Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources: South Korea has committed to closing 30 coal-fired power plants by 2034, with 24 of them being converted to natural gas-fired power plants.
- Improving energy efficiency in transport and industry: South Korea plans to boost power efficiency by replacing turbines and expanding the capacity of circulation pumps to reduce emissions.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: South Korea is taking steps to reduce emissions from the transport sector, with a focus on reducing emissions from diesel vehicles.
- Addressing fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone: South Korea is implementing measures to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, which are toxic particles harmful to human health.
- Promoting sustainable waste management and recycling: South Korea's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system imposes quotas for waste recycling on manufacturers, encouraging waste reduction and reuse.
- Collaborating with private businesses: South Korea has attracted private investments in NRE technologies, creating a market and reducing GHG emissions through the development of green technology businesses.
- Implementing regulatory measures: South Korea enforces regulatory limits on air pollutants and hazardous substances under the Clean Air Conservation Act, with a focus on promoting low-emission vehicles.
- Utilizing technology: South Korea has deployed 5G-enabled autonomous robots and satellites to monitor air quality and provide real-time data to the public.
- International cooperation: South Korea has worked with the UNEP to share its experiences and best practices in improving air quality with other regions facing similar challenges.
These measures demonstrate South Korea's commitment to addressing air pollution and achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The collaboration with UNEP and the implementation of these solutions will contribute to improving air quality and protecting the health and environment of South Korea's citizens.
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The UN supports South Korea's waste management and recycling, encouraging waste reuse as an energy resource
South Korea has been dedicating around 2% of its GDP annually to tackling its pollution problem, which is almost double the amount suggested by the UN. In addition, the UN has been supporting South Korea's waste management and recycling efforts, encouraging waste reuse as an energy resource.
The UN's partnership with the Capital Metropolitan Area, which includes Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province, is part of a broader effort by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to combat air pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. UNEP supports the development of national and subnational action plans and policies on air quality while helping to reduce pollution from key sectors, such as transport.
South Korea has made significant progress in food waste recycling through efficient policies. Around 30% of total waste is food waste, with over 90% of it effectively separated and collected. The country has also implemented a volume-based waste fee system, which has reduced waste generation and encouraged recycling among its citizens. The public's awareness of the environment has increased, and technologies for recycling have improved.
In addition to food waste recycling, South Korea has also banned all single-use plastic bags in supermarkets, offering alternatives such as paper bags, multiple-use cloth shopping bags, or recyclable containers. The country has also promoted a waste-to-energy policy to boost its self-sufficiency rate and is working towards becoming a zero-waste society, aiming to achieve a 3% landfill rate and 87% recycle rate by 2025.
The UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3 addresses the serious social and environmental impacts of food loss and waste due to indiscriminate consumption. The UNEP has also been working with South Korea to share best practices and spread the word of successful measures to combat air pollution with other regions.
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Frequently asked questions
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has partnered with the Republic of Korea's Capital Metropolitan Area to tackle air pollution and share best practices with other regions.
South Korea has the highest level of environmental pollution among the 38 OECD countries. The country's rapid industrialization and urbanization have contributed to high levels of air pollution, with the mean exposure to a toxic particle known as PM2.5 being the highest of any state in the OECD.
South Korea's pollution is driven by coal-fired power generation and vehicle emissions. The country's power plants, diesel vehicles, construction equipment, heating and cooling systems, and agricultural industry are major sources of air pollution.
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter in the air with aerodynamic diameters of less than 2.5 micrometers that can penetrate the cardiovascular system. It contains nitrates, black carbon, and mineral dust, posing a severe health threat to the population.
South Korea has implemented various measures to combat pollution, including improving waste management and recycling, reducing emissions from power plants, transitioning to natural gas-fired plants, tightening air quality guidelines, and promoting the use of low-emission vehicles.
