and South Korea created 23.62% of global GDP, while emitting 33.44% of global
CO 2 emissions (IEA 2019).
Geographic challenges such as the logistics of land transportation and historically
rooted issues have tended to limit cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea
(Calder and Ye 2008, Kim et al. 2014). However, building an energy cooperation
scheme within the region could achieve the goals of sustainability, stability, and
security (3S), including mitigating insecurities about access to energy resources,
developing energy sustainability, and maintaining stability of the energy market
(Kim et al. 2014; Freeman 2015). Energy cooperation should promote the enhancement of energy efficiency, increase the proportion of renewable energy in the energy
mix, and improve energy access and connectivity across the region (ESCAP 2017).
In addition to environmental conservation responsibilities, the economic potential of
environmental issues has been well recognized. China, Japan, and South Korea have
incorporated low-carbon development into their dominant national strategies and
have prioritized environment and energy-related industries, which provides a backdrop for mutually beneficial cooperation. Considering the different stages of industrial technology development, the benefits of environmental cooperation have been
qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed in many scenarios, providing evidence of
economic and environmental gains, in particular in the field of renewable energy
generation to reduce emissions. As well as developing national countermeasures,
regional cooperation in East Asia is needed in order to successfully achieve reduction targets (Zhang 2018; Meng and Serafettin 2020). Thus, establishing an East
Asian Low-Carbon Community including Japan, China, and Korea should be
considered as a priority measure (Zhou 2019).
Considering the immense potential in renewable energy and clean technology,
this chapter argues that China–Japan–South Korea cooperation would widen economic relations among the countries. Challenges and potential for international
environmental cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea are discussed.
The mechanism of international environmental cooperation is explored from government level to industrial level. We conclude that the three countries should
cooperate in the framework of the East Asian Low-Carbon Community.
19.2 Existing Cooperation Among China, Japan, and South
Korea in Renewable Energy
As discussed in Chap. 2, after 2008, cooperation among China, Japan, and South
Korea in energy and the environment changed to a mutually beneficial arrangement
and expanded to include renewable energy. The China–Japan–Korea Renewable
Energy and New Energy Technology Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing in
2008. The meeting discussed and adopted the Common Initiative on Strengthening
China–Japan–Korea Renewable Energy and New Energy Science and Technology
Cooperation. This initiative reached consensus on the principles of mutual benefit,
342
Y. Ling et al.
CO 2 emissions (IEA 2019).
Geographic challenges such as the logistics of land transportation and historically
rooted issues have tended to limit cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea
(Calder and Ye 2008, Kim et al. 2014). However, building an energy cooperation
scheme within the region could achieve the goals of sustainability, stability, and
security (3S), including mitigating insecurities about access to energy resources,
developing energy sustainability, and maintaining stability of the energy market
(Kim et al. 2014; Freeman 2015). Energy cooperation should promote the enhancement of energy efficiency, increase the proportion of renewable energy in the energy
mix, and improve energy access and connectivity across the region (ESCAP 2017).
In addition to environmental conservation responsibilities, the economic potential of
environmental issues has been well recognized. China, Japan, and South Korea have
incorporated low-carbon development into their dominant national strategies and
have prioritized environment and energy-related industries, which provides a backdrop for mutually beneficial cooperation. Considering the different stages of industrial technology development, the benefits of environmental cooperation have been
qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed in many scenarios, providing evidence of
economic and environmental gains, in particular in the field of renewable energy
generation to reduce emissions. As well as developing national countermeasures,
regional cooperation in East Asia is needed in order to successfully achieve reduction targets (Zhang 2018; Meng and Serafettin 2020). Thus, establishing an East
Asian Low-Carbon Community including Japan, China, and Korea should be
considered as a priority measure (Zhou 2019).
Considering the immense potential in renewable energy and clean technology,
this chapter argues that China–Japan–South Korea cooperation would widen economic relations among the countries. Challenges and potential for international
environmental cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea are discussed.
The mechanism of international environmental cooperation is explored from government level to industrial level. We conclude that the three countries should
cooperate in the framework of the East Asian Low-Carbon Community.
19.2 Existing Cooperation Among China, Japan, and South
Korea in Renewable Energy
As discussed in Chap. 2, after 2008, cooperation among China, Japan, and South
Korea in energy and the environment changed to a mutually beneficial arrangement
and expanded to include renewable energy. The China–Japan–Korea Renewable
Energy and New Energy Technology Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing in
2008. The meeting discussed and adopted the Common Initiative on Strengthening
China–Japan–Korea Renewable Energy and New Energy Science and Technology
Cooperation. This initiative reached consensus on the principles of mutual benefit,
342
Y. Ling et al.