Speaker
Description
Research Background
Urban and regional carbon neutrality is fundamentally a sustainability issue (Park, 2023). Carbon neutrality cannot be deemed successful if it results in economic decline or diminished social equity. Fossil fuel-based energy systems are inherently incompatible with growth models that promote sustainable development. Consequently, considerable attention has been devoted to energy transitions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the issue of social equity has received comparatively less attention than climate change adaptation agendas, such as urban hazard mitigation. Achieving carbon neutrality inevitably transforms the socioeconomic fabric of cities, which may either enhance or undermine social equity. Therefore, it is imperative to understand how urban disparities influence the pursuit of carbon neutrality.
Method
The purpose of this research is to assess the impact of intra- and inter-urban disparities on greenhouse gas emissions. A multilevel model was developed using data from metropolitan and basic local governments in South Korea. Two primary data were utilized. GHG emissions were analyzed using data from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Center of South Korea, while case studies were conducted using data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s Carbon Spatial Map (carbonmap.kr). The spatial information provided by the Carbon Spatial Map enabled a more detailed and nuanced multilevel analysis.
To measure urban disparities, key variables were selected, including GRDP per capita, local income tax per capita, life expectancy, the ratio of beneficiaries of national basic livelihood, and the proportion of budgets allocated to carbon neutrality initiatives. Additionally, the impact of urban spatial structures was examined through the development of the Urban Compactness Index (UCI). The UCI comprises four components: Development Density, Land Use Mix, Activity Centering, and Street Accessibility. Variables such as employment density were used for Development Density; building use diversity and job mix were applied for Land Use Mix; regional Global Moran’s I was used for Activity Centering; and plot coverage ratio was employed for Street Accessibility.
Results
The analysis revealed that while the impact of urban disparities and spatial structures on per capita emissions was minimal at the basic local level (141 cities in South Korea), significant differences were observed at the metropolitan level. Regions with lower local income tax per capita and a higher ratio of beneficiaries of national basic livelihood exhibited higher per capita emissions in the building and transport sectors. Regarding urban spatial structures, higher values of Land Use Mix and Activity Centering were associated with lower per capita emissions. Intra-urban disparities were most pronounced in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu. Inter-urban disparities varied by city size; cities with populations exceeding 1 million exhibited minimal disparities, whereas small and medium-sized cities with populations under 500,000 demonstrated significantly higher per capita emissions.
Policy Implications
South Korea’s legislative framework mandates carbon neutrality goals to be achieved at the basic local level. This framework emphasizes accountability at the city level to meet the nation’s carbon neutrality targets. However, intra- and inter-urban disparities present significant barriers to implementing these policies. For instance, cities lacking public transportation systems face greater challenges in reducing transport-related GHG emissions compared to other municipalities. Addressing both intra- and inter-urban disparities can yield greater benefits for achieving carbon neutrality. Additionally, ensuring the maximum utility for the most disadvantaged regions aligns with the principles of sustainable development. Therefore, to achieve the national carbon neutrality goals through urban and regional initiatives, it is essential to minimize disparities while advancing carbon neutrality policies.
Funding
This work was supported by the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement (KAIA) grant funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Title: Development of Planning Support Technology based on Carbon Spatial Map, Grant RS-2023-00242291).
References
Park, J.-Y. (2023) Carbon neutral growth model for sustainable development of each regional type. Busan: Pusan National University.
Park, J. and Jung, S. (2024) 'Exploring urban compactness and greenhouse gas emissions in the road transport sector: A case study of big cities in South Korea', Sustainability, 16(5), p. 1911.
| Keywords | Carbon Neutral City, Sustainable Development, Urban Polarization |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
