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Emissions trading schemes (ETS) have spread across the globe to tackle climate change. However, limited attention has been given to how ETS characteristics and designs differ and why. We use the concept of institutional complementarity to explore how the EU ETS and South Korea's ETS (K‐ETS) adapt to complement established political economy. The EU ETS is characterized as a market with stakeholder ownership, while the K‐ETS is more regulatory in nature with government leadership. The EU ETS complements a decentralized political system with liberalized energy market, and the K‐ETS became compatible with the centralized majoritarian politics and a regulated electricity market. The ETSs have evolved incrementally, and they are not likely to link in the foreseeable future due to divergence. We suggest a strong focus on "how to adapt" an ETS to its own institution rather than adopting the established blueprint model in countries with a strong regulatory style of governance. Related Articles: Caliskan, Cantay. 2020. "The Influence of Elite Networks on Green Policy Making." Politics & Policy 48(6): 1104–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12382. Tanaka, Yugo, Andrew Chapman, Tetsuo Tezuka, and Shigeki Sakurai. 2020. "Multiple Streams and Power Sector Policy Change: Evidence from the Feed‐In Tariff Policy Process in Japan." Politics & Policy 48(3): 464–89. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12357. von Malmborg, Fredrik. 2023. "Combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework and Argumentative Discourse Analysis: The Case of the 'Energy Efficiency First' Principle in EU Energy and Climate Policy." Politics & Policy 51(2): 222–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12525. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skyrocketing single-plastic demand during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic proved the limitation of top-down environmental policies in accomplishing sustainable consumption and waste management. Nevertheless, 'smart consumers' can make smart choices for sustainable development. However, a review of the South Korean environmental education curriculum reveals that the current structure heavily leans towards the elementary level and does not enlighten the public on 'what' and 'how' to live sustainably. This study uses a quick survey to suggest that the effectiveness of environmental education may be enhanced if: (1) guidance on how to live with the natural environment in harmony for collective cooperation towards resilient and sustainable community building is incorporated with a clear purpose, (2) environment-friendly culture-building activities are enforced to institutionalise a new paradigm of sustainability to replace today's consumerism, and (3) contents are updated regularly to include Earth and environmental science knowledge in the state of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to observe how international policy initiatives are implemented in each country's environmental policies to ensure global environmental conservation and sustainable development. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the trend of environmental policy in Korea over time. To this aim, we use semantic network analysis to explore the main keywords and to identify the characteristics of the key themes in each period based on the national environmental comprehensive plan. Our results show that the value of economic growth and technological development are regarded as priorities in Korean environmental policy because the economy and technology are closely related to the environment. Similarly, when it comes to the fundamental concept of environmental policy, the concept of "green growth" is applied in preference to the concept of "sustainability." The results contribute to expanding the approach of existing policy research by providing the potential for semantic network analysis based on policy documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between emissions trading schemes and Research and Development (R&D) productivity based on data from manufacturing industries participating in the Korean Emissions Trading Scheme (KETS). First, this study estimates the total factor R&D productivity by industry, and it is confirmed that changes in R&D productivity vary across industries. The total factor R&D productivity in Korea has been decreasing, but the annual growth trend has been increasing rapidly due to the introduction of the KETS. Based on the estimated R&D productivity, panel data model estimation is executed to reveal the effect of environmental policy on R&D productivity. Empirical results confirm that environmental policy plays a vital role in promoting R&D productivity, and policy stringency affects R&D performance. The results also find that the environmental policy encourages enterprises to participate in KETS for improving R&D productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM) release is regulated by environmental policies in most countries. This study investigated long–term trends in the mass extinction efficiency (Qe) of aerosols in Northeast Asia. For this purpose, the Qe was calculated using visibility, PM2.5 recorded between 2015 and 2020, and PM10 recorded between 2001 and 2020 at eight Korean sites. The Qe of PM10 (Qe,10) showed an increasing trend with 0.06~0.22 (m2/g)/yr in seven cities except for Jeju. The Qe of PM2.5 (Qe,2.5) also showed an increasing trend with 0.28–2.47 (m2/g)/yr in all cities. In this study, PM10 and PM2.5, were divided into low, moderate, and high concentrations, and the Qe value change by year was examined. Qe,10 showed a tendency to decrease at low concentrations (19–21 μg/m3). However, at moderate (69–71 μg/m3) and high concentrations (139–141 μg/m3), Qe,10 increased in most regions. Qe,2.5 showed an increasing trend at low concentration (9–11 μg/m3), moderate concentration (29–31 μg/m3), and high concentration (69–71 μg/m3), except for Suwon and Pohang, where data were insufficient for analysis. Both Qe,10 and Qe,2.5 showed an increasing trend. The increase in Qe indicated that the visibility-impairing effect of PM can increase even if the same concentration of PM is present. The visibility-impairing effects of PM vary based on the composition, size and other characteristics of the particles in the atmosphere at a given point in time and not simply the quantity of particles. This means that reducing the quantity of particles does not reliably produce a proportionate improvement in visibility. Air quality policies must take the variable nature of PM particles and their effect on visibility into account so that more consistent improvements in air quality can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed renewed interest in Africa and public diplomacy has emerged as the vital tool being used to cultivate these relations. China has been leading in pursuing stronger economic partnership with Africa while middle powers such as Korea are also intensifying engagement with the continent. While previous studies have analyzed the implications of China's activities in Africa on advanced powers, none has examined them from the paradigm of middle powers. This study fills this gap by assessing China's activities in Africa, their economic engagement and implications for Korea's interest in Africa. The analysis is qualitative based on secondary data from various sources and literature. The study shows that China's public diplomacy strategy involves a high degree of innovation and has evolved to encompass new tools and audiences. China has institutionalized a cooperative model that permeates many aspects of governance institutions in Africa, enabling it to strengthen their relations. This could also be helping China to adjust faster leadership transitions in Africa. Whereas the US is still the most influential country in Africa, China is influential in economic policies and has outstripped the US in infrastructure diplomacy. This could be because African policy makers align more with China's economic model than the US' mainstream economics. Chinese aid to Africa has been diversified to social sectors that are more responsive to the needs of Africa. Trade and investment relations between China and Africa have deepened, but so does trade imbalance since 2010. China mainly imports natural resources and raw materials from Africa. But this product portfolio is not different from Korea and the US. China's energetic insertion in Africa using various strategies has significant implications for countries with ambitions in Africa. Korea can achieve its ambitions in Africa by focusing resources in areas it can leverage its core strengths-such as education and vocational training, environmental policy and development cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It was found that Korea's LCGC policy is characterized by high rebound and short duration. • Regard pilot policy of Low-carbon Green City as a quasi-natural experiment. • This article examines the effectiveness of Korea's carbon trading system policy. • The mitigation effect of LCGC policies on carbon emissions shows a regional pattern increasing from north to South. Climate change response is a long-term, stage-specific global challenge that necessitates ongoing research on its routes. Although previous research has examined policy planning and indicator development for a low-carbon transition based on a variety of macropolicies, more research is needed to determine whether such policies can help reduce carbon emissions and accelerate urban transitions. Based on 2015–2021 panel data covering 17 South Korean first-level administrative districts, we employ a propensity score matching-difference in difference (PSM-DID) model and a mediating effect model to address issues of interregional development faults and policy feasibility and to investigate the impacts of the low-carbon green city (LCGC) policy in different regions on urban carbon emissions. To address the development gap and policy feasibility across regions, this study investigates the mechanism and path of the effect of the LCGC policy on urban carbon dioxide emissions in various regions, ultimately incorporating local spatial autocorrelation (LSA) to investigate the characteristics of the differences at the spatial level. The findings demonstrate that (1) the present regulations effectively limit total urban carbon emissions but are characterized by strong rebound elasticity and a short period. (2) Energy use and renewable energy production have the greatest influence on reducing total urban carbon emissions. (3) The local spatial autocorrelation clustering characteristics present the clustering characteristics of being high in the east and low in the north. The HH agglomerations have the largest coverage and are mainly distributed in the southeast and southwest directions of the study area. The results of the study provide a decision-making basis and theoretical support for relevant decision-makers to formulate differentiated carbon emission reduction policies and to eliminate the current transition dilemma with a new research methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Park, Y., 2023. Analyzing the implementation of Annex VI (Liability Arising from Environmental Emergencies) for Antarctic Environmental Protection in South Korea. In: Lee, J.L.; Lee, H.; Min, B.I.; Chang, J.-I.; Cho, G.T.; Yoon, J.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Multidisciplinary Approaches to Coastal and Marine Management. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 116, pp. 319-322. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. After the 18th century, human activities related to Antarctica were followed by concerns about the Antarctic environment and efforts to preserve it. The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and subsequent treaties formed the Antarctic Treaty System, most of which regulates the conservation and peaceful use of the environment and ecosystem. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991), also known as the Madrid Protocol, comprehensively regulates Antarctic environmental protection; Article 16 stipulates a liability system. In the end, after long discussions, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting adopted Annex VI (Liability Arising from Environmental Emergencies) in 2005 to establish a liability regime. This annex will go into full effect with the approval of all Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties. Eighteen years have passed since this annex was adopted in 2005. Among the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, 19 countries have approved Annex VI. However, countries involved in Antarctic activities, including South Korea, the US, Japan, and Argentina, have not yet approved Annex VI. The necessity of ratifying Annex VI is increasing for the important policy goal of environmental protection under the Antarctic Treaty System. Considering South Korea's position as a leader in Antarctic scientific research and polar activities, demands for international ratification are expected to intensify. Through an analysis of the contents of Annex VI, this article presents legal issues and considerations for South Korea's implementation of legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the strong similarities between energy-resource-poor and fossil-fuel-centered economies (e.g., Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea) in terms of economy, culture, and energy usage characteristics, they should be analyzed collectively. This study adopted two-tier input-output structural decomposition analysis to identify the driving forces behind CO2 emissions to these countries to the formulation of effective environmental policy. Data from the World Input-Output Database was used to decompose relative changes in CO2 emissions into a range of technological advances, factor substitution, and final demand effects. Technological advances in energy (direct) contributed to a 77% reduction in Taiwan and a 34% reduction in South Korea. This is a clear indication that improving energy efficiency via technological advances should be a priority. In Japan in particular, there was a 22% reduction in CO2 emissions attributable to technological advances in materials; hence, it is recommended that Taiwan and South Korea work to extensively develop eco-industrial parks to create industry clusters to promote resource/energy efficiency and reductions in CO2 emissions. Decomposition results based on factor substitution revealed that a variety of strategies will be required, such as switching to fuels that are less carbon intensive, promoting the adoption of renewable energies, and implementing clean-coal technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to establish a test method for assessing radon exhalation rates from building materials considering radon related environmental policy and research in Korea. This method was established in consideration of cost-effectiveness based on the International Standards Organization (ISO) method and the closed chamber method, which is an evaluation method for the emission of hazardous chemical substances from building materials in Korea. The assessment of radon exhalation rates from five types each of granite and marble used in the construction industry in Korea gave mean radon exhalation rates of 0.497 ± 0.467 Bq/m2∙h from granite and 0.193 ± 0.113 Bq/m2∙h from marble, indicating higher radon exhalation rates from granite. These results are consistent with those of a previous study, indicating that granites are more likely to show higher radon exhalation rates than marbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]