3.3 Concept of East Asian Low-Carbon Community
3.3.1 Background
3.3.1.1 Characteristics and Issues of East Asia
The East Asian region is characterized by an enormous diversity of politics, economy, technology, culture, religion, and ethnicity. In an environmental context,
common issues are faced, such as economic development (overcoming poverty),
addressing pollution, global climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, and
transboundary air pollution. In regions like East Asia where developed and developing countries coexist, all countries share the burden of environmental degradation,
and the need for regional cooperation in resolving environmental problems is
becoming increasingly apparent. Problems such as air pollution, acid rain, and
climate change do not respect physical or geopolitical boundaries. East Asia faces
a trilemma of poverty, pollution, and global environmental issues. Ensuring the
security of strategic energy resources based on mutually beneficial international
cooperation in East Asia and building policy development scenarios and roadmaps
are essential.
The Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 in December 2015 stipulates the goal of
“2
C control, 1.5
C effort,” and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from
anthropogenic activities to virtually zero in the latter half of this century. By 2030,
Japan will reduce CO 2 emissions by 26% compared to 2013, China will reduce CO 2
emissions per GDP by 60–65%, and South Korea will reduce CO 2 emissions by 37%
compared to business as usual (BAU). Achieving a low-carbon society to reduce
global climate change is a goal in common between developed and developing
countries. However, Japan has already achieved the world’s highest levels of energy
saving and efficiency. Reducing CO 2 further will be costly, and additional dramatic
reductions are impossible.
On the other hand, China, with sizeable CO 2 emissions, has a high, cost-effective
reduction potential, but has limited capacity. Once the co-benefits of economic
growth, pollution control, and low carbonization become apparent, there will be a
strong incentive for low-carbon policy development. Other developing countries
such as Brazil, India, and Mexico face these common challenges. Tables 3.2, 3.3,
and 3.4 show climate measures in Japan, China, and Korea, respectively.
3.3.1.2 Technical Gap and Potential in China, Japan, and South Korea
Figure 3.1 compares CO 2 emissions (CO 2 emission intensity) per real GDP (purchasing power parity (PPP) conversion) among the three countries. From 1971 to
2014, the CO 2 emission intensity of Japan, China, and South Korea differs from each
other. The causes of this difference include energy structure, industrial structure,
technology level, lifestyle, and exchange rate. For example, if the efficiency of
68
W. Zhou
3.3.1 Background
3.3.1.1 Characteristics and Issues of East Asia
The East Asian region is characterized by an enormous diversity of politics, economy, technology, culture, religion, and ethnicity. In an environmental context,
common issues are faced, such as economic development (overcoming poverty),
addressing pollution, global climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, and
transboundary air pollution. In regions like East Asia where developed and developing countries coexist, all countries share the burden of environmental degradation,
and the need for regional cooperation in resolving environmental problems is
becoming increasingly apparent. Problems such as air pollution, acid rain, and
climate change do not respect physical or geopolitical boundaries. East Asia faces
a trilemma of poverty, pollution, and global environmental issues. Ensuring the
security of strategic energy resources based on mutually beneficial international
cooperation in East Asia and building policy development scenarios and roadmaps
are essential.
The Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 in December 2015 stipulates the goal of
“2
C control, 1.5
C effort,” and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from
anthropogenic activities to virtually zero in the latter half of this century. By 2030,
Japan will reduce CO 2 emissions by 26% compared to 2013, China will reduce CO 2
emissions per GDP by 60–65%, and South Korea will reduce CO 2 emissions by 37%
compared to business as usual (BAU). Achieving a low-carbon society to reduce
global climate change is a goal in common between developed and developing
countries. However, Japan has already achieved the world’s highest levels of energy
saving and efficiency. Reducing CO 2 further will be costly, and additional dramatic
reductions are impossible.
On the other hand, China, with sizeable CO 2 emissions, has a high, cost-effective
reduction potential, but has limited capacity. Once the co-benefits of economic
growth, pollution control, and low carbonization become apparent, there will be a
strong incentive for low-carbon policy development. Other developing countries
such as Brazil, India, and Mexico face these common challenges. Tables 3.2, 3.3,
and 3.4 show climate measures in Japan, China, and Korea, respectively.
3.3.1.2 Technical Gap and Potential in China, Japan, and South Korea
Figure 3.1 compares CO 2 emissions (CO 2 emission intensity) per real GDP (purchasing power parity (PPP) conversion) among the three countries. From 1971 to
2014, the CO 2 emission intensity of Japan, China, and South Korea differs from each
other. The causes of this difference include energy structure, industrial structure,
technology level, lifestyle, and exchange rate. For example, if the efficiency of
68
W. Zhou