The climate change impact assessment system, which was introduced as a means to cope with climate crisis under the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Coping with Climate Crisis (the “Act”), became effective on September 25, 2022 after a one-year grace period. With the implementation of the climate change impact assessment system, major national plans and large-scale development projects now must (i) assess their impacts on or from climate change and (ii) implement greenhouse gas reduction measures and climate crisis adaptation measures. Key details of the climate change impact assessment system are as follows.
1. Assessment Subjects and Methods
The subjects of the climate change impact assessment are 10 industries that are either emitting a large amount of greenhouse gas or vulnerable to climate crisis among those plans and projects subject to the (Strategic) Environmental Impact Assessment. The 10 industries are (i) energy development, (ii) industrial site and complex development, (iii) urban development, (iv) water resource development, (v) port construction, (vi) mountain development, (vii) river use and development, (viii) road construction, (ix) airport construction, and (x) installation of waste and livestock excretion treatment facilities. For your information, the industries (viii) to (x) will be subject to the climate change impact assessment, starting from September 25, 2023.
The agencies implementing the plans or business operators subject to the climate change impact assessment must assess the relevant plans or projects in terms of greenhouse gas reduction or climate crisis adaptation. For reductions, reduction goals must be established by comprehensively considering all relevant factors (e.g., greenhouse gas emission forecasts, mid- to long-term reduction goals, and technological level) and be achieved by presenting reduction plans for each sector, such as energy, buildings, transportations, and wastes. Reduction plans for each sector may consider, among others, renewable energy, reuse of treated sewage water, zero-carbon buildings, and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (“CCUS”) technology.
For adaptation, climate crisis factors (e.g., heat waves, floods, and rising sea levels) must be identified from mid- to long-term climate change scenarios and national/regional adaptation plans, and optimal adaptation measures must be implemented. Optimal adaptation measures may include, among others, minimizing impermeable areas and installing rainwater storage facilities to prepare for flooding caused by torrential rain caused by climate change.
2. Assessment Procedures and Review
The Ministry of Environment (“MOE”) announced that the climate change impact assessment will be conducted in the same manner as the environmental impact assessment, but a separate and specialized review on “climate” will be additionally conducted. In particular, (i) pre-assessment statements for (strategic) environmental impact assessment must include details on impacts of climate change, (ii) a draft of climate change impact assessment report must be separately prepared, and (iii) a review of climate change impact assessment report must be requested simultaneously with the request for consultation on the (strategic) environmental impact assessment report to the MOE or relevant regional environmental office. Once a review is requested, the MOE will review the appropriateness of the reduction goals, reduction measures, and adaptation measures presented in the (strategic) environmental impact assessment report together with professional climate institutions (e.g., Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center, Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change, and National Institute of Environmental Research) and present its official opinion within the consultation period for the environmental impact assessment.
For reduction, factors such as the use of the latest emission coefficients, consistency with the reduction goals, latest technology trends, similar reduction cases, and specific reduction goals and measures will be reviewed. On the other hand, for adaptation, factors such as the status of climate change, analysis of forecasts, reliability of relevant data, calculation of risks and adaptation measures, and consistency with the national and local adaptation measures will be reviewed.
Implementation of the climate change impact assessment system will likely have a significant impact on various plans and projects, including energy development, urban/road/port/airport construction, and waste disposal. Considering that it is one of the new administration’s national agendas and it is still in the early stage, any issues related to the climate change impact assessment system needs to be thoroughly scrutinized during the implementation of such plans and projects. Thus, it would be advisable to familiarize with the details of the relevant laws and regulations (e.g., Public Notice of the Regulation on the Climate Change Impact Assessment Method, Established Rules of the Regulations on Handling Climate Change Impact Assessment Report, and Guideline to the Climate Change Impact Assessment soon to be distributed) and to strategically respond to the implementation and changes to the climate change impact assessment system.
