The coal boom has negative consequences for humans and nature that outweigh its economic benefits. Coal does not just kill the climate. In coal mines, terrible working conditions are rife. Accidents are commonplace. The environmental and health costs linked to the use of coal to generate electricity are enormous. The atlas provides insights on how turning away from fossil (and nuclear) fuels towards renewable energy can offer huge economic and social opportunities.
South Korea's use of pesticides began with its forced conversion to the Japanese agricultural regime during Japanese occupation in the early 20th Century. Behind rapid industrialisation in the post-1960s, were problems of environmental pollution and pesticide poisoning due to the world's highest pesticide use. With authorities leaving control to agrochemical companies, and the companies only interested in selling pesticides, a pesticide policy for nature and people is a long way off.
This publication is a translation of the South Korea case studies section in the first edition of the World Nuclear Waste Report published in 2019. It attempts to spark a debate in South Korea on the complexities of dealing with nuclear waste. For the last decade since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, many civil organisations, experts and citizens have denounced the South Korean government's continued dependence on, and management, and development of nuclear power plants but to no avail.
South Korea is ranked 17th in the world for cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, most of which come from the energy sector. The country’s policies for energy transition away from fossil fuels and nuclear power began with the expansion of participatory renewable energy. However, the new government has taken a step backwards from previous policies that aspired to a sustainable and carbon-neutral society.
