Tag: climate change

South Korea Sees Greenhouse Emissions Fall for Second Straight Year

Here is some good news for those hoping for better air in South Korea:

South Korea’s greenhouse gas emissions are believed to have fallen for the second consecutive year in 2023, government estimates showed Sunday.

According to the estimates by the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, South Korea’s emissions in the energy transition sector last year were estimated at 203.7 million tons, a 4.8 percent fall from 219.3 million tons in 2022.

Emissions in the industrial sector are also believed to amount to 244.7 million tons last year, a 0.4 percent decline from 245.8 million tons in 2022, according to the estimates.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Is Climate Change Impacting Korea’s Cherry Blossom Festivals?

Last year the cherry blossoms festivals were moved up due to warmer winter weather and various cities kept them scheduled for the same time this year. However, this year the weather was colder this spring and thus the trees are blossoming at its normal time:

Cherry blossoms are  budding in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Saturday. The annual spring flower festival kicked off, Saturday, with less than 10 percent of flowering rate due to climate change. Yonhap

Cherry blossoms are budding in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Saturday. The annual spring flower festival kicked off, Saturday, with less than 10 percent of flowering rate due to climate change.

Local governments, renowned for hosting iconic flower festivals every spring, find themselves grappling with flowerless venues this year.

The delayed blooming of seasonal flowers, primarily attributed to climate change, has resulted in a significant setback, leaving these venues bereft of their usual vibrant displays.

The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, Korea’s largest cherry blossom festival that is held in the southern port city of Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, kicked off on Saturday. However, as of Sunday, the city’s flowering rate stood at only 15 percent, with the full bloom phase anticipated to occur later next week, according to the city government. (…….)

Even a month ago, many anticipated the flowers to bloom earlier than usual, again, as abnormally high temperatures were recorded last winter. The country’s average temperature last month was 4.1 degrees Celsius, registered as the highest in February since 1973. 

But the weather changed suddenly in March, with abnormal subzero temperatures and lower precipitation levels, failing to offer the necessary and sufficient conditions for the spring flowers to bloom.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but this sounds less like climate change and more like the weather.