Climate Change and Green Cities in South Korea

1. Climate Change and Green Cities in South Korea Nautilus-ARI Research Workshop 20 October 2010 Sanghun Lee, Ph. D. Assistant Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts Hanshin University

2. Contents 01. Background of urban insecurity in South Korea 02. Green Growth – A new growth strategy 03. Green Cities in South Korea 04. Conclusion

3. 01 Background of urban insecurity in South Korea

4. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea 1) Entrophy and Limits of Growth • Environmental Fix (Noel Castree) • In capitalist society, capital and state try to overcome the politico-ecological limits of growth  environmental fixes • Environmental fixes  nature is produced in various manner according to the dominant mode of production • In general, formal  real  fictitious subsumption of nature by capital and state

5. 01. South Korea as construction state 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea 1) Entrophy and Limits of Growth • Material and Energy Use under the process of capitalist society MP C M C’ M+Δ Accumulation of capital LP Increase of entrophy • Capitalism is based on ‘expanded reproduction of value’ and intensive use of fossil fuels like coal & oil at the same time • ‘Fossil fuel capitalism’ can not grow forever (peak oil)  politico-ecological limits to growth • Consequences of rapid growth of capitalism is increase of social inequality, environmental degradation, and fossil fuel exhaustion  roots of urban insecurity

6. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea 2) Neo-developmentalism of the South Korea as ‘Construction State’ • Developmentalism and construction state • Developmentalism: ideology which seeks economic, industrial, technological development through exploitation of natural environment and resources • Construction state: construction-project-oriented developmental state • Neo-developmentalism: developmentalism + neo-liberalism (environmental fix)  hegemonic domination of construction state through developmentalism • Huge scale construction project at a certain place is the result of state’s spatial selectivity(Bob Jessop & Neil Brenner).  territorial politics is proceeded by place-dependent agencies  acceptable milieu for construction projects (developmentalist hegemony within the territory)

7. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea 2) Neo-developmentalism of the South Korea as ‘Construction State’ • Spatial selectivity, territorial politics, and construction coalitions • The material basis of politico-economic regime in South Korea, as construction state, is ‘construction coalitions’(close network of politicians, construction business and media, bureaucrats, and related experts)at local levels.  influential to decision making process of policies (main stakeholders) • After IMF crisis(1998), when neoliberal discourse began to dominate, South Korea as construction state, has supported environmental fix strategies of capital  large scale wetland reclamation project, low & medium level radioactive waste depository site construction project, 4 major rivers restoration project etc.

8. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea 3) Urbanization in ‘Construction State’ • Polarization and apartment dominant cities Urbanisation Trend Rapid urbanisation followed by industrialisation: 37%(’60)  90%(’00) Source: Young A Lee (2009)

9. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea Distribution of Population Spatial polarisation - Population of the Capital region : 21%(’60)  48%(’05) Dominance of large cities - No. of million cities: 2(’60)  8(’03) - Population share: 39%(’60)  52% (‘03) Industrial Location Policy 1960s: Light industries in large cities 1970s: Heavy/chemical industries in selective growth poles 1980s: Small/medium complexes in less industrialized regions 1990s: Create new industrial spaces in west coast region 2000s: Industrial clusters with RIS and R&D activities Industrial Complex Population National Complex >1Milliom Regional Complex 500-1,000 thousand Free Economic Zone 300-500 thousand Free Trade Zone 100-300 thousand FDI Zone <100 thousand 3) Urbanization in ‘Construction State’ • Polarization and apartment dominant cities Source: Young A Lee (2009)

10. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea 3) Urbanization in ‘Construction State’ • Polarization and apartment dominant cities -The dwelling condition of the poor is more and more deteriorated while apart- ment flat becomes dominant landscape of cities. National housing construction by dwelling type in South Korea • Roads and roofs of building  impervious cover  hydrological circulation • interruption  vulnerability increase (serious damage from heavy rainfall at Seoul in 2010) • Around 105 billion USD was spent for construction of roads (2000-2005) • * National revenue is around 250 billion USD in FY 2009

11. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea Trend of population of elderly people aged over 65 3) Urbanization in ‘Construction State’ • Social dimension of urbanization in South Korea Ten thousand persons Source: Young A Lee (2009)

12. 01. Background of urban insecurity of South Korea Unemployment rate of young people (aged 15~29) (unit: %) • Social dimension of urbanization in South Korea Trend of unemployment Source: Young A Lee (2009)

13. 02 Green Growth- A new growth strategy

14. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 1) Energy consumption in South Korea More than 94% of GHG comes from energy sector(83.9%) and industrial process(10.9%) as of 2006

15. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy Electricity Consumption Per Capita(kWh) 1) Energy consumption in South Korea • In 2006, 3 times increase comparing with year of 1991 (South Korea) • Supply-oriented energy policy, No demand management, low price system Source: Yujin Lee, 2010, “Low carbon green community”

16. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 2) Introduction of Low carbon and green growth strategy • Addressed by president, as a national goal for next 60 years(2008.8.15) • To utilize environment for further growth and to respond to climate change • through green technological breakthrough and Green New Deal • Green New Deal includes 4 major rivers restoration(building 16 dams & dredging 4 rivers) & expansion of nuclear power plants (14 more plants by 2030)

17. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 2) Introduction of Low carbon and green growth strategy <Source> Website of Presidential Committee on Green Growth (www.greengrowth.go.kr)

18. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 2) Introduction of Low carbon and green growth strategy • Scenario of GHG emission reduction (2009.8) (단위: 백만톤 CO2) PCGG, 2009, “Mid-term plan for national GHG emission reduction target(2020)”  At cabinet meeting on 17th November 2009, the third option(4% reduction basis of 2005) was adopted

19. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 3) 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project as crucial tool of Green Growth • Korea Grand Canal Construction Plan (following RMD canal of Germany) • Facing hard dissent from people, the plan was cancelled by the President • Instead, 4 Major river restoration project was presented as crucial project of Green Growth (270 billion USD)

20. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 3) 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project as crucial tool of Green Growth • Pictures of 4 Major Rivers

21. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 3) 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project as crucial one of Green Growth • The purposes and tasks of 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project • To enhance the capacity of adapting to climate change • To defend rivers from flood • To provide sufficient and clean water to riparian areas • by constructing 16 dams across the rivers • by dredging sediments of rivers

22. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 3) 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project as crucial tool of Green Growth (1) Is it a project that achieve flood control? • Mismatch of frequently flood damaged areas and planned areas in the project (blue lines) • Source: Korea Research Institute for Human Settlement, “Sustainable land management strategy climate change (II)”, 2009 • Contradictory purposes in the project • - Responding water shortage and preventing flood by lowering water level • - Lowering water level while promoting various leisure activities in summer time

23. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 3) 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project as crucial tool of Green Growth (1) Is it a project that achieve flood control? Planned flood level Height of houses Normal operation level Present ground level • Increased risk of inundation owing to the project (Youngsan River) • Source: Jung-Wk Kim, 2010, “Crisis of Water”

24. 02. Green Growth – A New Growth Strategy 3) 4 Major Rivers Restoration Project as crucial tool of Green Growth (2) Is it appropriate for water quality management? • Impact of large-scale dredging of river bottoms to water quality  floating matters and turbid water have been spread to neighboring areas Source: Parkjinseop(2009), “Is there no problem in 4 major rivers project if it is not grand canal project?”

25. 03 Green Cities in South Korea

26. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 1) Low Carbon Green City Projects by Central Government Source: Wang(2010)

27. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 1) Low Carbon Green City Projects by Central Government Source: Wang(2010)

28. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 2) Vision of Constructing Low Carbon Green City Climate change Climate change Cities Unprecedented danger like hot temperature Large scale disasters Simultaneous exposure to various climate disasters Mitigation of heat island Limits in preventing disasters Complementary adaptation tools Eco-friendly prevention of disasters Limits in structured measures Limits in structured measures Enhancement of adaptive capacity of cities Integrated urban planning Crisis management Source: Wang(2010)

29. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 3) Cases of Green City 1 – “Environment Capital Changwon City” - Noobiza Program  “Go wherever in Changwon by bicycle” (free public bicycle) - Alternative transportation movement

30. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 3) Cases of Green City 2 – “Green Capital Cheongjoo City” • “Forest in apartment complex” • Increasing CNG buses • Recycling of waste (campaign)

31. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 3) Cases of Green City 3 – SG FEZ(Saemangeum Free Economy Zone) - Saemangeum Wetland Reclamation Project  catch 22 situation of the province - FEZ, Renewable Energy(Wind power) Cluster  Successful?

32. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 3) Cases of Green City 4 – “Green Apartment movement” Meeting of earth worm grower, inspection of energy consumption, Candle night festival, reduction of energy and food waste 20% in 180 household

33. 03. Green Cities in South Korea 3) Cases of Green City 5 – “Collection of used cooking oil” in KangdongGu - Transforming used cooking oil into biodiesel - Climate change education in Hansan Middle school, “Making a resource circulation school through recycling of used cooking oil”

34. 04 Conclusion

35. 04. Conclusion • Green Growth or Green Wash? • Green Growth Strategy of South Korea could be interpreted as an environmental fix strategy by construction state • The strategy is far from satisfactory approach in terms of alleviating urban insecurity facing climate change  Green Wash! • Because the main content of the strategy is based on construction model of development which aggravates the impact of climate change on cities • However, there are some examples which have affirmative effect on adapting the impact from climate change • We need more initiatives from urban grassroots towards green cities

36. Thank you, for your attention!