Participated In A Study On The Impact Of RCEP On Korea's Energy Transition

In order to achieve sustainable development,the energy transition has become a new global consensus in the 21 st century.For a long time,South Korea has a high degree of dependence on foreign imports of energy,a high proportion of fossil energy in the energy supply and demand structure,a large proportion of high energy consumption industries in the economic structure,and high carbon emissions.From the perspective of the energy system,South Korea’s energy management generally adopts a centralized management model,and the level of power marketization is low.These factors have brought certain obstacles to South Korea’s energy transition.In 2020,the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" was formally signed.South Korea’s accession to RCEP will help further expand overseas markets,deepen international cooperation and division of labor,and expand its own trade surplus advantage.While international trade brings economic growth to South Korea,it will also increase South Korea’s pressure to reduce emissions.Korea’s energy transition goals mainly include energy security,sustainable development,and enhancing people’s welfare.Drawing on the research experience of domestic and foreign scholars on the relationship between international trade and energy environment,this paper focuses on the driving mechanism and push-back mechanism of the impact of joining RCEP on Korea’s energy transition based on the extensive collection of background information on Korea’s energy transition.The driving mechanism is divided into internal and external drivers,and this study analyzes the RCEP cooperation mechanism in terms of green development by filtering the favorable conditions for promoting Korea’s energy transition from the provisions in the text of the RCEP agreement related to economic,institutional,and social multiple perspectives.In terms of internal drivers,deepening the level of international trade brings innovation incentives for micro-entities in Korea,and reducing Korea’s carbon intensity by adjusting the industrial and energy consumption structure is conducive to the efficient implementation of Korea’s energy transition.In terms of external drivers,the increased government revenue generated by trade provides a solid material basis for Korea’s energy transition,a diversified energy supply and demand structure can reduce Korea’s energy dependence on foreign countries and ensure energy security,and the mutual construction of intra-regional green development consensus and Korea’s domestic policies promotes the sustainability of energy transition.The greater the economic gains from international trade,the stronger the incentive for Korea to further deepen its regional economic integration,and the increase in carbon emissions from trade will force Korea to accelerate its energy transition.The economic structure of China and South Korea is similar,and South Korea’s energy transition issues are more extreme than China’s.The analysis of South Korea’s energy transition in this article can help China promote domestic and international energy transition within the framework of international cooperation and improve energy efficiency.And the level of global environmental governance to provide policy reference.