OECD ranks South Korea's air pollution in top 5 worst in the world
- 5 years ago
Air pollution is now a huge issue in South Korea.
Advisories go out with alarming frequency about fine dust clogging the air.
According to the OECD, South Korea's air pollution is the fourth worst in the world, and the culprit is coal used for power generation.
Seo Bo-bin reports.
South Korea was one of the five countries with the worst air pollution in the world in 2017.
That's according to a report from the OECD on fine dust pollution.
Number one was India, followed by China, Vietnam, South Korea and South Africa.
And the OECD says the cause of the pollution is coal used for power generation.
South Korea burns coal to generate 46 percent of its electricity,... far higher than the average among OECD countries of 27 percent.
The global average is 38 percent.
In the case of South Korea, new coal power plants totaling 2 gigawatts are expected to be online next year,... and in 2021 and 2022... another 3 gigawatts.
Neighboring China, meanwhile, the source of much of Korea's fine dust, plans to reduce its reliance on coal from the current 67 percent to 55 percent next year.
Even though China's cutting coal as a percentage, it's still building new coal plants.
A South Korean industry official said that with both countries doing so, it's unlikely that air quality will improve in the next few years.
Seo Bo-bin, Arirang News.
Advisories go out with alarming frequency about fine dust clogging the air.
According to the OECD, South Korea's air pollution is the fourth worst in the world, and the culprit is coal used for power generation.
Seo Bo-bin reports.
South Korea was one of the five countries with the worst air pollution in the world in 2017.
That's according to a report from the OECD on fine dust pollution.
Number one was India, followed by China, Vietnam, South Korea and South Africa.
And the OECD says the cause of the pollution is coal used for power generation.
South Korea burns coal to generate 46 percent of its electricity,... far higher than the average among OECD countries of 27 percent.
The global average is 38 percent.
In the case of South Korea, new coal power plants totaling 2 gigawatts are expected to be online next year,... and in 2021 and 2022... another 3 gigawatts.
Neighboring China, meanwhile, the source of much of Korea's fine dust, plans to reduce its reliance on coal from the current 67 percent to 55 percent next year.
Even though China's cutting coal as a percentage, it's still building new coal plants.
A South Korean industry official said that with both countries doing so, it's unlikely that air quality will improve in the next few years.
Seo Bo-bin, Arirang News.