[The Hwankyung Ilbo] The Ministry of Environment's Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center said it has confirmed the country's greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 to 709.14 million tons of CO2eq, up 1.65 million tons or 2.4% from 692.57 million tons a year earlier after deliberation by the National GHG Statistics Management Committee.

The year-on-year increase in greenhouse gas emissions (16.57 million tons↑) was mainly caused by electricity and heat production (8.6 million tons↑, 3.5%↑), steel (6.1 million tons↑, 6.5%↑), and fluorine-based greenhouse gases (3.1 million tons↑, 20.6% ↑).

The increase in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity and heat is due to the increase in the coal and gas sector.

The main reason for the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from coal is that new facilities, which were previously approved by the government, were installed despite the abolition of some facilities.

Per capita emissions recorded 13.8 tons / person in 2013 and slightly decreased from 2014 to 2016, but increased by 2.1% from 2017 to 13.8 tons / person.

“Although the increase in greenhouse gas emissions slowed from 2013 to 2016, the country's overall efforts are needed to achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said the President of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center.

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