Emissions Data

According ⁣to data submitted by ​the Ministry ⁢of Environment, the provisional greenhouse gas ‍emissions ⁣from the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sector in 2023 amounted to ‌25 million tons, accounting ​for‍ 4.01% of total ⁣emissions.

Compared to⁤ 2018, the base year for the government’s ‘2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction‍ Target​ (NDC)’, greenhouse gas emissions⁤ in the five sectors of conversion, industry, buildings, transportation, and waste decreased significantly, but only the ‍agricultural, livestock, and ‍fisheries ​sector showed an increase.

National Greenhouse⁤ Gas ⁣Reduction Target

The⁢ government is working to reduce greenhouse gases in six sectors, including⁤ buildings and transportation, based on ​reduction targets. The national greenhouse gas provisional emissions for 2023 are projected to be ⁣624.2 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent), down about 13.9% from 725 million tons in 2018.

Looking at‌ each sector in detail, the conversion⁣ sector decreased by ‌25.3% from 268.4 million tons to 204 million tons during the same ‍period, the building sector ​decreased by ⁢15.3%‍ from 52.1 million tons to 44.2 million tons, and the waste sector decreased by 10.2%‌ from 17.4 million tons to 15.6 million tons. The industrial sector ​and transportation sector also decreased by 8.4% and 1.3%,​ respectively.

Backsliding Carbon Neutrality​ Policy

However, greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sector actually increased​ by 1.5% from 24.7 million tons in 2018 to⁤ 25 million tons last ‍year. Accordingly, its ⁢share of total national emissions also increased significantly from 3.4% in 2018 to 4.0%.

The backsliding carbon neutrality ‌policy is mentioned as a reason for the increase​ in emissions from the agricultural, livestock,​ and fisheries sectors.⁤ The lawmaker pointed out that “the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sectors have been criticized for being sluggish in promoting projects such as support​ for livestock manure treatment​ facilities ⁢for ‍carbon neutrality,⁤ dissemination of eco-friendly agricultural technologies, and establishment of a low-carbon agricultural foundation.”

Call for Action

The lawmaker said, “The livestock ‌and fisheries sectors, which⁣ need to respond most urgently to the climate crisis, are almost completely unresponsive to the carbon neutrality ‍policy,” and added, “We must actively work ‍to devise alternatives, such ⁣as livestock manure treatment support projects ​and the revitalization of eco-friendly agriculture.”