The Korea Herald

Europe’s urban rivers spring back to life

Aug 1, 2013

PARIS (AFP) ― Beaches in Paris and Warsaw, a bucolic cycle in Madrid ... capitals around Europe are slowly transforming their riverbanks from noisy, polluted thoroughfares to green, leisurely havens.Keen to boost their image, environmental credentials and their economy, authorities in many cities are giving rivers pride of place again after years of neglect.“We can’t live without water,” said Jean-Pierre Gautry, honorary president and former head of the French Society of Urban Planners, explaini
As solar panels pile up, China takes axe to polysilicon firms

Aug 1, 2013

HONG KONG (Reuters) ― Three quarters of China’s solar-grade polysilicon producers face closure as Beijing looks to overhaul a bloated and inefficient industry, resulting in fewer but better companies to compete against Germany’s Wacker Chemie AG and South Korea’s OCI Co Ltd.The polysilicon sector, which has around 40 companies employing 30,000 people and has received investment of 100 billion yuan ($16 billion), suffers from low quality and chronic over-capacity as local governments poured in mo
Seoul faces increasing risk of landslides

Jul 18, 2013

Experts cite changing rain patterns, mountain development, flawed water management
Korean-American environmental activists to visit Suncheon

Jul 9, 2013

A group of Korean-American environmental activists will visit the International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea 2013 Saturday to forge deeper ties with the city, the event organizers said Tuesday.The Suncheon Bay Garden exposition plans to welcome 220 visitors from California-based environmental organization PAVA World, including 160 Korean-American students.The visit came after Cho Chung-hoon, the mayor of Suncheon, visited the United States in January and clinched an agreement with PAVA W
World Bank warns global warming woes closing in

Jun 20, 2013

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The World Bank on Wednesday warned that severe hardships from global warming could be felt within a generation, with a new study detailing devastating impacts in Africa and Asia.The report presents “an alarming scenario for the days and years ahead ― what we could face in our lifetime,” said World Bank president Jim Yong Kim.“The scientists tell us that if the world warms by two degrees Centigrade (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ― warming which may be reached in 20 to 30 years ― that
Effort to revive Galapagos tortoises once thought extinct

Jun 20, 2013

PUERTO AYORA, Ecuador (AFP) ― Scientists will try to revive two species of giant Galapagos tortoises thought to have been extinct by breeding genetic relatives in captivity, experts leading the effort said.The Galapagos Islands, located 1,000 kilometers off Ecuador’s Pacific coast, are famed for the large number of species that have developed there in isolation.New research techniques have revealed that at Wolf volcano on Isabela Island, 17 hybrid giant tortoises have been found with genes from
Climate talk shifts from curbing CO2 to adapting

Jun 20, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Efforts to curb global warming have quietly shifted as greenhouse gases inexorably rise.The conversation is no longer solely about how to save the planet by cutting carbon emissions. It’s becoming more about how to save ourselves from the warming planet’s wild weather.It was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent announcement of an ambitious plan to stave off New York City’s rising seas with flood gates, levees and more that brought this transition into full focus.After years of losi
GGGI chief seeks greater private-sector role

Jun 13, 2013

The Global Green Growth Institute will focus on reinforcing collaborations between governments and the private sector to help developing countries to pursue environment-friendly growth, its new chief Howard Bamsey told The Korea Herald.The “think and act” tank was set up by the Korean government in 2010 to bridge the rich and poor countries and share technologies and experiences for sustainable development across the world. The Seoul-based institute was upgraded into an official international or
U.S.-China climate deal was long in the works

Jun 13, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Disparate interests ranging from environmental activists to businesses and industry are lining up to support a first-of-its-kind deal between the U.S. and China to phase out a chemical blamed for climate change.Although it took most proponents by surprise, the deal was in the bag before President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the California desert retreat where they announced it over the weekend. And for China, it came only after a change in financial
Seoul to showcase green growth at ENVEX 2013

Jun 9, 2013

Korea has invited companies from around the globe focused on eco-friendly technologies to the 35th International Exhibition on Environmental Technology and Green Energy in Seoul this week, the Ministry of Environment said. Some 310 companies from 23 countries are expected to showcase about 2,000 of the latest technologies and products at Korea’s biggest exhibition on environment, at COEX from June 11-14. Their ideas will include household products ranging from a food waste treatment system to ai
U.S. conservationists posts ad at President Park

May 9, 2013

A group of conservationists in the U.S. posted an ad containing messages toward South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye on the New York Times on Tuesday.The ad was produced by Protect the Palisades, which opposes Korean tech firm LG Electronics’ plan to build a 44-meter-high corporate headquarters in Palisades, New Jersey, that boasts beautiful vistas.Started by the words “President Park Geun-hye: An American landmark is at risk,” the message urges LG Electronics to change its original plan and bu
Korea, China, Japan pledge joint action to tackle pollution

May 6, 2013

Korea, China and Japan agreed Monday to launch a regular tripartite policy dialogue to tackle air pollution including harmful particulate matters smaller than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers.At the close of the two-day ministerial meeting in Kitakyushu, Japan, they adopted a joint communiqu pledging to build a network for sharing information on environmental policies and prepare a sustainable governance system for dust and sandstorm.They also called for an early launch of the green climate fu
Korea eyes task force on greenhouse gas reduction

May 3, 2013

The government will establish an inter-ministry task force to better orchestrate its plans for cutting greenhouse gases and achieve reduction goals more effectively, officials said Friday.The consultative body involving environment, finance and other related ministries will play a role as a control center in devising and executing plans on how to achieve its stated goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.In 2009, South Korea vowed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from its bu
Korea gears up for carbon market scheme

May 2, 2013

A global carbon emissions watchdog called for the Korean government to go ahead with its plan to introduce a cap and trade system in 2015, despite opposition from businesses and a deepening gloom over the market. Yang Choon-seung, director of Korea Sustainability Investing Forum(KoSIF), said the government should step up proactive efforts for the development of the burgeoning market in which permits to emit carbon are given to firms and can be traded among them. “If we don’t even try to implemen
Korea, China, Japan to hold environmental talks

May 2, 2013

Korea, China and Japan will pledge joint efforts at an annual trilateral meeting to reduce the environmental impact of air pollution and tackle climate change issues in the Northeast Asia region.The Ministry of Environment said Thursday that Environment Minister Yoon Seong-kyu would suggest holding regular three-way talks for tackling air pollution, and setting up a network to share information on environmental policies at the annual 15th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting attended by Kore