Local Government's Response to Global Warming;Comparison of Seoul and Tokyo

지구온난화에 대한 지방정부의 대응;서울과 동경의 비교

As Russian government signs the Kyoto Protocol on November 2004, it will go into effect on Feb. 16 2004. Under the Protocol, 38 industrialized countries are to reduce their combined emissions of six major greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, to below 1990 levels during the 2008-2012 period. Korea ratified the Protocol in 2002 and is currently exempt from the reduction measures. It is expected, however, that Korea will be pressured to join the reduction scheme from 2013. Although the Kyoto Protocol is national-level agreement each country's urban governments are expected and have to play important role to make it successful one. It is more so for such mesa cities as Seoul which has experienced rapidly worsening environment recent years. Statistics shows that the annual average temperature in Seoul has increased by $1.5^{\circ}C$ for the last century, which is much higher than the national average. 'Heat Island' effect is not unusual any more in Seoul. This study reviews the key points of the Kyoto Protocol, urban warming phenomena in Seoul and its policy responses. In doing so, this study evaluates Tokyo case as a comparative one. It is found that Seoul needs to develop more concrete and feasible policy measures to get current efforts more effective.