탄소중립 사회로의 ​안전한 전환 | Yu-Jin Lee | TEDxGoyang

Climate Change and the Urgency of Action

• The speaker addresses the issue of climate change and the lack of urgency in addressing it.
• The speaker identifies three key points to discuss: the severity of the climate crisis, the need for a carbon-neutral society, and the importance of individual action.

Defining Climate Change

• The speaker defines climate change as the rise in global average temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human economic activities, leading to significant changes in climate patterns.
• The burning of fuel, agricultural activities, and various economic and industrial activities release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
• Once released, greenhouse gases contribute to the continuous rise in global average temperatures.

The Severity of the Climate Crisis

• Over the past 200 years, human activities have increased global average temperatures by more than 1.1 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
• The rate of temperature increase has accelerated in recent times.
• The IPCC's 1.5°C Special Report, published in 2018, concluded that to avoid extreme situations and potential catastrophe, global average temperature increases must be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

International Efforts to Address Climate Change

• To address this issue, the international community has been making efforts since the 1990s.
• The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement are examples of international agreements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Goal of Carbon Neutrality

• The Earth's temperature needs to be stabilized at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• To achieve this, the goal is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
• Carbon neutrality means that human activities do not add any additional carbon dioxide to the Earth's atmosphere.
• This means that carbon dioxide emissions will converge to zero by 2050.
• To achieve this, either emissions need to be reduced to zero or any remaining emissions need to be absorbed or removed.
• Approximately 150 countries around the world have declared carbon neutrality.

The Role of the Youth Climate Movement

• The speaker believes that the youth climate movement, including Greta Thunberg, played a key role in accelerating the global declaration of carbon neutrality.
• The speaker argues that the youth's actions in response to the climate crisis have sped up humanity's response to the issue.

Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Beyond Individual Efforts

• The speaker emphasizes that achieving carbon neutrality requires a significant shift in global energy and social systems, going beyond individual efforts.
• The speaker highlights the crucial role of governments, local authorities, and politics in achieving carbon neutrality.

The Reliance on Fossil Fuels

• The majority of carbon emissions originate from the combustion of fossil fuels.
• A graph illustrates the current global energy consumption, showing the types and amounts of primary energy used by humans.
• The graph depicts the historical use of biomass energy, represented by a brown color, which has been a traditional energy source for humanity.
• The graph also shows the emergence of coal, oil, and natural gas as energy sources starting in 1850.
• The reliance on fossil fuels has been instrumental in driving economic growth and development.

Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

• Achieving carbon neutrality involves significantly reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, aiming for near-zero reliance.
• Currently, fossil fuels account for 77% of the global primary energy used for economic activities.
• South Korea's reliance on fossil fuels is even higher, reaching 81%.
• The text emphasizes the magnitude of change required to transition away from fossil fuels.

The Urgency of Action

• The speaker was born in 1975.
• The speaker uses a visual aid to demonstrate the amount of fossil fuel energy used by humanity since 1975.
• The speaker emphasizes the need to rapidly reduce fossil fuel consumption in the next 25 years to achieve carbon neutrality.
• The speaker highlights the importance of time in addressing climate change, stating that achieving carbon neutrality within a limited timeframe is crucial for a safer future.

The Changing Landscape of South Korea

• The speaker mentions that in 1975, there were only 190,000 registered vehicles in South Korea.
• As of 2023, South Korea has over 25 million registered vehicles, meaning there is one car for every two people in the country.
• To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, simply replacing all 25 million vehicles with electric cars is not a feasible solution.
• Strategies to reduce transportation demand, increase public transportation options, and encourage walking and cycling are necessary.
• Additionally, changes to the current lifestyle, which has become accustomed to convenience, are required.
• South Korea's median age was 19 in 1975.
• By 2030, the median age will reach 50, indicating that over half of the population will be 50 years old or older.
• The speaker argues that resources and energy available to make radical changes, such as carbon neutrality, are gradually decreasing.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of acting now, rather than delaying climate change action, to maximize the use of available resources and energy.

Imagining a Carbon-Neutral Future

• The speaker encourages the audience to imagine a carbon-neutral South Korea and Goyang City in 2050.
• The speaker prompts the audience to consider how a society with minimal fossil fuel use could be achieved.
• The speaker asks the audience to reflect on the type of society they would like to live in.

South Korea's Carbon Neutrality Plan

• South Korea has announced a shared goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
• To achieve this goal, a plan needs to be developed and a vision of the future society needs to be established.
• South Korea developed a carbon neutrality scenario in 2021.
• The scenario shows the country's greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2021, as well as the amount of carbon absorbed.
• The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by balancing emissions and absorption by 2050.

Reducing Carbon Emissions in South Korea

• The text discusses the need to reduce carbon emissions in South Korea.
• It highlights that while there were temporary decreases in emissions during the IMF crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, overall emissions have been increasing since the 1990s.
• The text emphasizes that South Korea's high level of manufacturing contributes significantly to carbon emissions.
• It suggests that reducing emissions in the manufacturing sector requires finding ways to decrease greenhouse gas emissions during production.
• The text also calls for reducing electricity consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
• It specifically mentions the need to phase out coal-fired power plants, which are major contributors to CO2 emissions.
• The text also suggests reducing the demand for heating in buildings by promoting zero-energy buildings.

Transforming Various Sectors for Carbon Neutrality

• To achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050, significant changes are required across various sectors.
• Buildings will need to be constructed or remodeled to reduce their carbon footprint.
• The transition to electric vehicles will necessitate the development of new urban infrastructure, including charging stations.
• A shift towards a more plant-based diet is encouraged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.
• Reducing plastic consumption, minimizing waste generation, and expanding forest areas to increase carbon absorption are crucial steps.
• Achieving a carbon-neutral society requires collective action and collaboration from individuals and organizations in all sectors.

The Financial Implications of Carbon Neutrality

• The transition to a carbon-neutral society will involve substantial financial investments.
• Delaying the cost of transitioning to a carbon-neutral society will result in increased costs and damages in the future.
• The responsibility of achieving carbon neutrality will be passed on to future generations if current generations fail to take action.

Understanding the Broader Context of Climate Change

• It is crucial to understand the broader context of climate change and how individual actions contribute to the overall societal goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
• The speaker acknowledges that transitioning to a carbon-neutral society, which relies heavily on non-fossil fuel energy sources, may seem challenging, especially considering that South Korea currently relies on fossil fuels for 81% of its energy needs.

The Shift to Electricity

• The transition to a carbon-neutral society by 2050 requires a shift from fossil fuels to electricity in energy systems.
• This shift involves replacing fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric vehicles, transitioning agricultural machinery to electric forms, and electrifying fishing vessels.
• The increased reliance on electricity will lead to a significant increase in electricity demand.

Renewable Energy as the Solution

• To achieve carbon neutrality, the electricity generated must be produced without CO2 emissions.
• The International Energy Agency proposes renewable energy as the solution for generating electricity without CO2 emissions.
• Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are environmentally friendly because they do not require additional fuel or produce emissions like particulate matter or waste.

Challenges of Renewable Energy

• However, renewable energy sources have a lower energy density, requiring a larger area for installation.
• This means that increasing renewable energy in South Korea would necessitate widespread installation, including on rooftops in urban areas.
• This could lead to a situation where energy production and consumption occur in the same location, and energy users would share responsibility for energy production.
• Additionally, solar power only generates electricity during the day, and wind power requires wind to operate.
• Maintaining a stable power grid requires balancing energy production and consumption.

Integrating Digital Technology

• The speaker addresses concerns about the variability of solar and wind energy sources, which could potentially destabilize the power grid.
• The speaker proposes integrating digital technology to address this challenge.
• This integration would involve using data and information to predict energy demand and renewable energy production.
• The speaker suggests that this approach could also encourage consumers to adjust their energy consumption patterns.

Creating New Jobs

• The speaker highlights the potential for creating new jobs through this energy transition, as countries worldwide strive to achieve carbon neutrality.

Increasing the Proportion of Renewable Energy

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of increasing the proportion of renewable energy through various institutional efforts.
• They highlight the possibility of installing solar panels in urban areas, citing their own experience with a balcony solar panel and membership in a solar cooperative.

Creating a Good Society

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a good society where everyone can live together, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for carbon neutrality.
• They acknowledge that the transition to carbon neutrality will lead to changes in employment, citing the example of coal-fired power plants.
• The speaker mentions that 18 coal-fired power plants in South Korea are scheduled to close by 2030, which will impact the workers and local economies.
• They also mention the potential impact of the rapid adoption of electric vehicles on the workforce.

Mitigating Job Losses and Creating Green Jobs

• The transition to a carbon-neutral society may lead to job losses in certain industries, such as those producing internal combustion engine parts, gas stations, and automotive repair shops.
• To ensure a smooth transition, it is crucial to establish social safety nets for individuals who may experience job losses or economic hardship due to the shift towards carbon neutrality.
• Creating green jobs is essential to mitigate the negative impacts of job losses and provide opportunities for individuals affected by the transition.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of greening industries, allowing individuals to contribute to climate change mitigation through their work, for example, by installing renewable energy systems or building energy-efficient homes.

Safe and Secure Cities and Societies

• The speaker highlights the importance of creating safe and secure cities and societies as a key aspect of the transition to a carbon-neutral future.
• Climate disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, resulting in loss of life, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• In 2022, three people died in a basement apartment in Ganghwa due to heavy rainfall in the Seoul metropolitan area.
• A comprehensive survey of 4,700 basement apartments in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, was conducted to assess flood and fire risks.
• Measures were implemented to install flood and fire prevention facilities, with a focus on high-risk areas.
• Relocation plans were developed for areas deemed unsafe for habitation.
• These measures are considered adaptation strategies to address the growing impact of climate change on specific regions and populations.
• Climate change has resulted in many deaths, demonstrating that vulnerable populations and cities with inadequate infrastructure and safety systems are at risk.
• The intensity of climate disasters is increasing, highlighting the need for safe urban infrastructure.

The Green Transition Research Institute and the "Do-Won Model"

• The Green Transition Research Institute is developing a carbon neutrality plan for Nowon District in Seoul.
• The plan aims to create a safe and equitable society while addressing climate change.
• The institute is applying the "Do-Won Model" to ensure that the plan considers ecological limits and social needs, such as employment, housing, and education.
• The process of creating policies involves discussions with citizens about the desired future society.

The Importance of Political Leadership

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of electing politicians and leaders who prioritize addressing climate change.

Stabilizing the Global Average Temperature at 1.5 Degrees Celsius

• The speaker discusses the concept of stabilizing the global average temperature at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• The speaker acknowledges the difficulty in understanding the implications of this goal.
• The speaker states that, based on 2018 data, the remaining carbon budget to stabilize the global average temperature at 1.5 degrees Celsius is 5,000 gigatons.
• The speaker notes that the current annual greenhouse gas emissions are 50 billion tons.
• The speaker highlights the shrinking carbon budget for achieving the 1.5-degree target.
• The speaker states that the current global carbon emissions are decreasing.
• To achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, each individual should emit no more than 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
• Currently, the average individual emits 4.6 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
• In South Korea, the average individual emits 12 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Understanding Carbon Emissions and the 1.5-Degree Celsius Lifestyle Calculator

• The speaker emphasizes the need for a better understanding of carbon emissions and their impact on the environment.
• The speaker mentions the development of a 1.5-degree Celsius lifestyle calculator.
• The calculator measures carbon emissions based on factors such as housing, transportation, food consumption, consumer habits, and leisure activities.
• The calculator helps individuals understand their current carbon footprint and provides suggestions for reducing emissions.

The Role of Consumers and Government Policies

• A calculator has been developed to demonstrate the impact of consumption on greenhouse gas emissions.
• The calculator highlights that 71% of global emissions are generated by companies during product production.
• The calculator emphasizes that consumers are responsible for purchasing these products, making consumer choices a key factor in influencing corporate emissions.
• The calculator also explores the role of government policies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating how individual actions and government policies are interconnected.
• The calculator suggests that government policies, such as reducing plastic usage or creating safe cycling infrastructure, are crucial for achieving emissions reduction goals.

A 1.5-Degree Celsius Lifestyle: Individual Action, Corporate Change, and Institutional Reform

• The speaker believes that a 1.5-degree Celsius lifestyle requires a combination of individual action, corporate change, and institutional reform.
• The speaker acknowledges that individuals may feel hesitant to adopt a 1.5-degree Celsius lifestyle due to concerns about being perceived as unusual or difficult.
• The speaker hopes to create a social atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable adopting a 1.5-degree Celsius lifestyle and working together to address the climate crisis.

Collective Awareness and Action

• The speaker emphasizes that achieving a carbon-neutral society requires significant effort and is not simply a matter of government reports.
• The speaker emphasizes that achieving a carbon-neutral society requires collective awareness and action from all members of Korean society.

The "Oh Se-Ri Lifestyle"

• The speaker uses the concept of "Oh Se-Ri lifestyle" as a relatable framework to understand the importance of individual choices.

The Future of the Planet and Future Generations

• The speaker highlights that the future of the planet and the lives of future generations, such as a child born today who will be an adult in 2050, are determined by the actions of the current generation.

Shifting Priorities

• The speaker argues that the current generation needs to shift from prioritizing growth and convenience to finding ways to live within the Earth's limits, requiring changes in lifestyle, politics, and policies.

The Urgency of Action

• The speaker concludes by referencing an Indian proverb that states "The best time is already gone, the second best time is now," emphasizing the urgency of taking action.