| Among the threatening and important problems in the21st century,global warming and climate are the most. Since1990s, reactions againstglobal warming have become stronger, and those of U.N. have beenincreasingly specific. As the climate change is recognized as one of theimportant changes facing world economy, reactions against it isunavoidable. Global warming influences on economy and human healthas well as natural eco-system. The effects on natural eco-system includechanges in precipitation pattern, rise in sea level, and disturbance ofeco-system. Damages in agricultural crops, direct or indirect damages oneconomy, and rise in threat to human health due to increase in infectiousdisease are cited as the impacts on humans and economy. There aregrowing concerns that changes in climate and eco-system are seriousaround the world. As climate changes aggravate degree and frequency of natural disasters and are recognized as a threat to human survival, manynations under the direction of U.N. start to discuss how to establish waysof cooperation to cope with climate changes.Due to the recognition of climate change as a threat to humansurvival, international efforts to cope with climate changes are beingmade, and as a result, based on UNFCCC adopted in1992and takingeffect in March,1994, international climate change standards wasestablished as a form of international cooperation. The objective ofUNFCCC is to make member countries exert their own efforts to reducegreenhouse gases and adapt themselves to climate changes, based on thescientific evidence that human economic activities cause the density ofgreenhouse gases in air to rise and climate change take place. In order toprevent global warming, U. N. basic agreements were adopted atEnvironmental Development Conference in1992, and Kyoto Protocol,which included detailed implementation plans, took effect on Feb.16,2005with the ratification of Russia in Nov.2004. It means international environmental regulations to refrain from emission of greenhouse gaseshave actively started.At11th Conference of the Parties in2005, work group AWG-KPwas organized to make sure that member countries keep their promises atleast7years before expiration of commitment years. Furthermore, at13thConference of the Parties in2007, BAP: Bali Action Plan was adoptedand then work group AWG-LCA was organized to discuss cooperationamong member countries. Then, climate change negotiation wascategorized into two tracks: AWG-LCA dealt with reduction, adjustment,financial resources, and technology transfer, and AWG-KP discussedfurther ways to reduction and range of reduction in member countries. Asa part of BAP,110countries attended and submitted Copenhagen Accordto General Assembly at the COP15in2009. Due to strong reactions fromdeveloping countries, the agreements were not officially adopted butgeneral assembly took a note. Since agreements were not drawn withinthe designated time, at the COP16in2010Cancun Agreement almostidentical to Copenhagen Accord was officially adopted, but remaining issues were not yet discussed. At the COP17in2011, Green ClimateFund which was the main result of Cancun Agreement was furtherspecified and resolved to start it from2012, and Durban Package, whichdesignated second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol and resolved todiscuss a new Protocol applicable to all member countries since2020,was adopted. At the COP17in2011, there was a sharp conflict betweendeveloped countries and developing countries on extension of KyotoProtocol and a form of new system. Developed countries insisted thatmajor greenhouse gas emission countries join the reduction regulationsand single legally binding agreement be established as a prerequisite forextending Kyoto Protocol, while according to "common but differentiatedresponsibilities" principle, developing countries supported for two-tracksystems in which only developed countries prolong obligatory reductionand developing countries voluntarily participate in reduction with thetechnological and financial support. In this respect, Durban Package isevaluated as Package Deal on systems after2012based on GCF requiredby developing countries. In addition, the second extension of Kyoto Protocol commitment years was agreed as required by developingcountries, and since2020single legally binding agreement was agreed toestablish.It is anticipated that all countries can be under the single legallybinding agreement according to Durban Platform drawn at COP17in2011. Considering that to date each country has a different legal liabilityaccording to its history of emission, a new climate change system ofsingle legally binding agreement is expected to bring various andfundamental changes.In recent times, there have been growing concerns on energy andresource depletion and thus green industry is now expanding on themarket. It is anticipated that green energy technology based energymarket will outgrow IT and BT industries, and thus the need to fosterGreen energy industry as a new growth power arises. Under the presentsituation, low-carbon green growth has emerged as a key strategy ofnational competitiveness. Moreover, specific situations of Korea such asmulti use of energy, steadily growing greenhouse gas emission, and direct or indirect influence from global warming, make low-carbon greengrowth a must. Also, low-carbon green growth will be a new futurestrategy and thus the study on energy development strategy of Korea isnecessary.As a domestic background, seriousness of Korean multi use ofenergy, steadily growing greenhouse gas emission, and vulnerability toglobal warming are discussed. For the last several decades wheninternational community has tried to cope with global warming, Koreahas a position of a bystander. Under the Kyoto Protocol guidance, Koreawas classified as a developing country, and for20years has enjoyed higheconomic growth, increasing fossil fuel use without any check. With the12th largest economy, Korea has just contributed to raising globaltemperature without efforts to stop climate change over the last50years.However, there is a high chance for Korea with the12th largest economyto belong to a country subject to obligatory reduction. In addition, due tothe severe global competition, it is difficult to keep the presentcompetitiveness without changing profit generating models. Manufacturing-oriented industry development strategy based onKorea price competitiveness loses its suitability, and reliance onfossil-fuel will have a negative influence on economy, society, andenvironment in respect of regulations on carbon emission. It is sure thathigh dependence on fossil fuel will worsen environment pollution. Thus,with the change of paradigm, a new power for national growth should befounded. A new paradigm which seeks both economic growth andenvironment preservation through green conversion has emergedaccordingly. We should regard climate change and energy problems notas a crisis but as a new opportunity with active mind and nation-wideefforts. By converting industry structure into low-carbon one, we canestablish virtuous cycle of industrial development and environmentalproblem solutions. Moreover, we should seek ways to secure sustainablegrowth potentials, and to meet the needs for comfortable life with theimprovements of life environment and natural preservation. Governmentand companies should try to change existing paradigm as well. Under the situation in which existing major industries such asautomobiles, shipbuilding, iron, and semiconductors reach growth limits,a new growth power will be a future hope. Since backgrounds oflow-carbon economy are similar from country to country, the new growthfields major countries have interest in are similar with each other. Keywords of the new growth can be summarized as IT based, fusion,environment energy, and bio. Thus, severe competition is anticipated inthe near future, and if we lose in the competition, we can never secure anew growth power. Thus, we are required to select and focus on a fewfields.A representative report which raised a question on sustainability ofthe past growth-oriented economy model in respect of environmentalproblems was "Limits to Growth" by scholars working in various fields in1972. According to this report, since economic growth we enjoyed overthe last decades is no more available with regard to population increase,resources deletion, and environmental pollution,"zero growth" strategy isrecommended to make environment sustainable. With the report, there have been many discussions on sustainable growth, and sustainablegrowth is the one of the major agendas of Korea. To achieve it, three axisof economy, environment, and social development are emphasized, andinternational governance as well as domestic one is highly underlined. |
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