In summary, cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea in energy and the
environment has a long history and has changed from unidirectional support to
mutually beneficial cooperation by employing market-oriented approaches.
2.5 Reduction Roadmaps Based on INDC Targets
and Countermeasures in China, Japan,
and South Korea
According to INDC targets (Table 2.1), by 2018 China had lowered carbon dioxide
emissions per unit of nominal GDP by 60–65% from 2005 levels (Fig. 2.13).
However, emissions per unit of real GDP and GDP PPP still need to be improved.
Levels in China in 2018 were roughly equivalent to those in Japan in 1980; thus
there is immense potential for cooperation to reduce emissions. It is estimated that
there is a theoretical reduction potential between China and South Korea and Japan
and South Korea. This is the basis of cooperation among the three countries to
reduce emissions. Mitigation potential in South Korea is limited due to its industrial
structure, with a large share of manufacturing and high energy efficiency in major
industries (UNFCCC 2019) leading to an expected 30% reduction in emissions by
2030. This will be supplemented by trading on the international carbon market.
Climate change policy directions in the three countries (Table 2.2) show that
development of innovative low-carbon technology, transfer of existing technology,
and international cooperation are vital to achieve regional emission reductions.
2.5.1 Transition from Coal to Clean Energy
According to their INDCs, all three countries will proactively increase the share of
non-fossil fuels in primary energy; coal currently dominates their energy structures.
There are nearly 2500 coal-fired power plants in China, with a total installed
capacity of almost 970 GW by the end of 2017, an annual increase of approximately
2%. The coal power industry in China faces problems of overcapacity, and arrested
economic growth has led to a decline in power demand. The Chinese government is
seeking to continue economic restructuring and adopt more consumption-led and
environmentally sustainable growth, which has further decreased oil and coal
demand. Natural gas and renewable energy consumption is growing rapidly.
According to the energy development plan of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the total
installed capacity of coal-fired power should be kept below 1.1 billion kW by 2020.
After 2020, coal consumption should be reduced and adopt a long-term downward
trend.
There are more than 100 coal-fired power plants in Japan. After the Fukushima
nuclear power plant accident, Japan increased investment in new coal-fired power
54
X. Qian et al.
environment has a long history and has changed from unidirectional support to
mutually beneficial cooperation by employing market-oriented approaches.
2.5 Reduction Roadmaps Based on INDC Targets
and Countermeasures in China, Japan,
and South Korea
According to INDC targets (Table 2.1), by 2018 China had lowered carbon dioxide
emissions per unit of nominal GDP by 60–65% from 2005 levels (Fig. 2.13).
However, emissions per unit of real GDP and GDP PPP still need to be improved.
Levels in China in 2018 were roughly equivalent to those in Japan in 1980; thus
there is immense potential for cooperation to reduce emissions. It is estimated that
there is a theoretical reduction potential between China and South Korea and Japan
and South Korea. This is the basis of cooperation among the three countries to
reduce emissions. Mitigation potential in South Korea is limited due to its industrial
structure, with a large share of manufacturing and high energy efficiency in major
industries (UNFCCC 2019) leading to an expected 30% reduction in emissions by
2030. This will be supplemented by trading on the international carbon market.
Climate change policy directions in the three countries (Table 2.2) show that
development of innovative low-carbon technology, transfer of existing technology,
and international cooperation are vital to achieve regional emission reductions.
2.5.1 Transition from Coal to Clean Energy
According to their INDCs, all three countries will proactively increase the share of
non-fossil fuels in primary energy; coal currently dominates their energy structures.
There are nearly 2500 coal-fired power plants in China, with a total installed
capacity of almost 970 GW by the end of 2017, an annual increase of approximately
2%. The coal power industry in China faces problems of overcapacity, and arrested
economic growth has led to a decline in power demand. The Chinese government is
seeking to continue economic restructuring and adopt more consumption-led and
environmentally sustainable growth, which has further decreased oil and coal
demand. Natural gas and renewable energy consumption is growing rapidly.
According to the energy development plan of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the total
installed capacity of coal-fired power should be kept below 1.1 billion kW by 2020.
After 2020, coal consumption should be reduced and adopt a long-term downward
trend.
There are more than 100 coal-fired power plants in Japan. After the Fukushima
nuclear power plant accident, Japan increased investment in new coal-fired power
54
X. Qian et al.