• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.343-355
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• 2018

A new climate regime was intensively negotiated from 2011 to 2015, culminating in adoption of the Paris Agreement. The Agreement went into effect on 4th of November 2016. Follow-up negotiation to implement the Paris Agreement has continued since May 2016 and is expected to be finalized by 2018. This paper reviews and analyzes the process of establishment of the new climate regime based on the Paris Agreement, focusing on the main issues and the negotiating positions of major groups of developed and developing countries. This paper details various important issues determining the final outcome of the Paris Agreement and discusses the follow-up negotiation in the years 2016 and 2017. It concludes with discussion of the various implications of the Paris Agreement, which will determine important aspects of our future socioeconomic life well into the 21st century.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2002

Due to the recent increase in greenhouse gases in atmosphere, world climate is rapidly changing and in turn, the earth ecosystem responds upon the climate changes. Comparing the ecosystem in the past, the present shapes of ecosystem is the result of the serious modification. Fishery resources in marine ecosystem, which usually occupy the upper trophic level, are also inevitable from such changes, because they always react to the natural environmental conditions. The northwestern Pacific is the most productive ocean in the world producing about 30% of world catch. From time to time, however, it has been notified that abundance, distribution and species composition of major fish species were altered by climate events. Furthermore, primary productivity of the ocean is not stable under the changing environments, so that carrying capacity of the ocean varies from one climate regime to another. Major climate events such as global warming, atmospheric circulation pattern, climate regime shift in the North Pacific, and El Nino event in the Pacific tropical waters were introduced in relation to fisheries aspects. The current status and future projection of fishery production was investigated, especially in the North Pacific including Korean waters. This new paradigm, ecosystem response to environmental variability, has become the main theme in marine ecology and fishery science, and the GLOBEC-type researches might provide a solution far cause-effect mechanism as well as prediction capability. Ecosystem management principles for multi-species should be adopted for better understanding and management of ecosystem.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.181-195
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• 2018

On December 12, 2015, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, in which several developed and developing countries all committed to participating in the reduction of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. South Korea has submitted an intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) proposal with a target to cut down 37% greenhouse gas business as usual (BAU) until 2030 in preparation for the 2030 GHG BAU. Under the post-2020 regime, which will be launched from 2021 as the agreement entered into force early, it is expected that efforts to support GHG reduction and adaptation to climate change in developing countries will be accelerated with the utilization of technologies and financial resources of developed countries. South Korea has established the Basic Plan for Climate Change Response and the Basic National Roadmap for Greenhouse Gas Reductions by 2030 to promote the response to climate change at the government level. The Ministry of Science and ICT, as the National Designated Entity designated by the UNFCCC, has come up with middle and long-term strategies for climate technology cooperation. South-Korea has an abundance of energy-consuming industries to support its export-oriented industrial structure; it is thus expected that achieving the GHG reduction target will incur a considerable cost. Moreover, in order to meet the reduction target (11.3%) of the intended nationally determined contribution proposed by South Korea, it is necessary for South Korea to actively promote projects that can achieve GHG reduction achievements, and financial resources are needed as leverage to reduce risks that can occur in the early stages of projects and attract private sector investment. This paper summarizes the theoretical discussions on climate finance and conducted a comparative analysis on the status of the funds related to climate change response in the UK, Germany, Japan and Denmark. Through this, we proposed the legal and policy tasks that should be carried forward to raise public funds that can be used for creation of new industries related to climate change as well as to reduce GHG emissions in South Korea. The Climate Change Countermeasures Act, which has been proposed by the National Assembly of South-Korea, stipulates the establishment of funds but there is no additional funding except for general account. In this regard, it is also possible to take measures such as the introduction of carbon tax or the collection and use of royalties through technology research and development projects for climate change, such as Industrial Technology Innovation Promotion Act. In addition, since funds are used in various fields such as domestic greenhouse gas reduction, technology development, and overseas projects, it is necessary to establish a system in which various ministries cooperate with the operation of the fund.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.122-134
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• 2016

With the advent of the new political regime of Jong Un Kim, North Korea is undergoing many changes, with its main motivation being economic growth. This study aims to identify the changes in clothing in North Korea under the new political climate. The research conducted a review on literature and empirical study. For literature review, books and papers from studies related to North Korea have been reviewed. For the empirical part, interviews with diverse class of North Korean refugees including Hanawon, videos on TV, 1,100 pictures and related articles from newspapers and Internet have been collected. Through this analysis, the study found that subtle changes in North Korean fashion started prior to the Jong Un Kim's regime, but has become full-blown since Kim's assumption of power. This proves that the country is not yet independent from its political situation. The results are as follows: First, the appearance of Ri Sol-ju has liberalized the fashion concept of North Korean women, and the popularity of her trademark style has actually contributed to a more amicable image for Kim. Second, the "Hallyu" style has spread to North Korea through various channels, and has started new trends. Third, the diversification of fashion styles has been greatly accelerated in accordance with the expansion of market, resulting from the economic revitalization policy. Last of all, Jong Un Kim's direct orders concerning fashion have resulted in some significant changes. The sophisticated uniforms of flight attendants and the development of luxury cosmetics being prime examples. As studies on this subject are extremely rare, this research is significant to identify the changes on the clothing culture under Jong Un Kim's regime, and to present an expanded view, as the two countries work towards an united Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.71-87
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• 2023

Climate change causes ocean warming, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, dynamic coastal risk, change of ecosystem structure and function, and degradation of ecosystem services. Not only that, but it has negatively impacted the well-being of people, society, and culture, including food security, water resources, water quality, livelihood, health, welfare, infrastructure, transport, tourism, recreation, and so on, especially by particularly degrading indigenous communities and generating an inequitable distribution of benefits and costs. As pointed out here, these adverse impacts of climate change on the ocean have been emphasized at the international and national levels. In contrast, the ocean field has been neglected in the climate change conversation for too long. However, since the UNFCCC COP 25, the ocean has been drawn into the discussion as a solution to address climate change. Moreover, the U.S. Congress recently unveiled a bill called the 'Ocean-Based Climate Solution Act, OBCSA' that reflects the new paradigm of the international regime. The comprehensive legislative bill includes elements related to climate inequity, a blue economy, and a community-led bottom-up policy mechanism, which will have a significant bearing on the ocean-climate legal system. Therefore, this study reviews the OBCSA and deduces implications with regard to the ocean-climate legal system in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.75-94
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyze the major issues discussed among Parties and provide a framework for predicting the agreements on those issues, prior to the final negotiation on a new legally-binding agreement on climate change adaptation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The analyses of documents, adaptation actions, and work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) under the UNFCCC informed that the adaptation issue has primarily been focused on the support of developed country Parties for the adaptation of developing country Parties following the principle of the Convention, Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). Three-year work of the ADP acknowledged the major issues on adaptation in the new climate agreement, which would be categorized as long-term and global aspects, commitments/contributions/actions, monitoring and evaluation, institutional arrangements, and loss and damage. A final agreement on each issue could be predicted by setting a zone of possible agreement in-between the two extremes of developing and developed country Parties and considering three major elements affecting the Parties' positions, national priority, adaptation action, and social expectation, which are proposed in this study. The three major elements should be considered in a balanced manner by Parties to draw a durable agreement that will enhance global adaptation actions from a long-term perspective. That is, the agreement needs to reflect adaptation actions occurring outside the Convention as well as social expectations for adaptation. It is expected that the new agreement on climate change adaptation, from a long-term and global perspective, would be an opportunity to reduce vulnerability and build resilience to climate change by incorporating global expectations.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.63
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• pp.159-184
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• 2014

Climate change is one of the biggest dangers facing all living creatures in the earth. It has been understood that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activity is the cause of climate change. Cars are responsible for around 12% of total EU emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) on 9 May, 1992, which entered into force on 21 March 1994. The European Commission first adopted a Community Strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from cars in 1995. On 19 December 2007, the European Commission proposed "Proposal for Setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars to reduce CO2 emissions", which was adopted on 23 April 2009 as "Regulation (EC) No 443/2009". Prior to submitting the Proposal, the European Commission performed impact assessment and prepared impact assessment report which was reviewed by the Impact Assessment Board. The objective of this Regulation is to set emission performance standards for new passenger cars registered in the Community, which forms part of the Community's integrated approach to reducing CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles while ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market. In the event that a manufacturer fails to meet its target, it will be required to pay an excess emissions premium in respect of each calendar year from 2012 onwards. On 11 March 2014, Regulation (EC) No 333/2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 was adopted. Regulation (EC) No 333/2014 amends Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 to implement the modalities of meeting the 95g CO2/km target for new passenger cars to be reached in 2020. As industry benefits from indications of the regulatory regime that would apply beyond 2020, the Regulation includes a further review to take place by, at the latest, 31 December 2014.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.511-517
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• 2013

UNFCCC was adopted in 1992 in order to prevent global warming. However, as a lack of concrete reduction goal and implementation plan, UNFCCC could not have effectiveness. In 1997, Kyoto Protocol to UNFCCC was adopted and UNFCCC regime started practically binding on the parties. Global warming takes the leading role in changing marine environment such as the rising of water level and sea water temperature. Also, Ocean plays the vital role in storing carbon to prevent global warming. Meanwhile ships which get the propulsion generated by consuming the fossil fuel are identified as GHG source and the discussions regarding the control of GHG emitted from ships are still in progress in IMO. IMO instrument has some legal conflicts with UNFCCC in principle. Therefore, this paper reviews the present UNFCCC regime and UNCLOS. Also, it surveys activities of IMO and analyze the Amendment to MARPOL73/78 Annex VI which entered into force on January 1, 2013. Finally, conclusions suggest the improvements in order to ensure effectiveness the new Amendment to MARPOL73/78 practically.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.73-90
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• 2016

In Climate change is a global issue that requires global responses. As a key factor in climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have attracted increasing attention the international community. One of the crucial global efforts to alleviate climate change is the establishment of an international climate change regime, comprising rules, norms, principles, procedures that are applicable to a wide range of activities. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) received a mandate from the Kyoto Protocol to regulate shipping GHG emissions. However, the IMO Convention and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea also provide regulations on regarding GHG emissions. To execute its mandate, the IMO has developed various regulatory initiatives. In addition, the Chinese government has declared new regulations which designate parts of its coastal waters as emission control areas (ECA). Owing to the growing recognition of the benefits of ECA, ships, including ocean-going vessels that operate in areas near the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and the Bohai Sea will be obliged to use fuel containing less than 0.5% sulfur. China's shipping industry is playing a growing role in the international shipping market, and its response to these initiatives will have a substantial effect on the future application of these regulations. This study analyzed the GHG mandates of the IMO and the Chinese government, and then examines the main outcomes that have been achieved.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.149-170
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• 2012

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, Durban 2011, ended on December 12, 2011, 36 hours over its schedule, delivering the Durban Package, which consisted of, inter alia, the extension of the period for Kyoto Protocol term and the launch of Ad-hoc working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action. Despite the positive progress made in Durban, the future of post-2012 climate regime still seems cloudy. Before the Durban conference, some of Annex I countries with emissions reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period openly declared their intention not to participate in the second one, reducing the effectiveness of Durban agreement. Parties to the conference have a long list of difficult issues disturbing the materialization of the new legal agreement in 2020 such as level of mitigation targets of individual countries and legal nature of their commitment. Given this uncertainty, the Korean government should reinforce its domestic climate policies rather than settling in the fact that it remains as a non-Annex I county party under the Durban Agreement due to the extension of the Kyoto Protocol period. Domestically, it needs to continue to raise the public awareness for rigorous climate policies to transit its economy to low carbon pathway which reduces the country's dependency on fossil fuel in the long term. It is also important to implement cost effective climate policies to cope with domestic resistance and international competitiveness. Internationally, its priority would be working for trust-building in the on-going negotiation meetings to encourage meaningful participation of all parties.