KOREAN NET

The Ministry of Science and ICT next year will inject KRW 2.7 trillion to develop responses to climate change through science and technology like this offshore wind power complex (pictured) on Jeju Island. (Yonhap News)

By Charles Audouin

The injection of KRW 2.7 trillion in public funding next year is part of a plan to develop know-how in adapting to climate change over the next 10 years through science and technology.

A government blueprint has presented a direction to that end through scientific and technological innovations in cooperation with 14 ministries and 12 local governments.

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Dec. 15 announced this in its 2023-32 basic plan for development of technology to respond to climate change. The proposed injection of KRW 2.75 trillion, up 3.9% from this year, will go toward implementing three strategies: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change and creating an innovative ecosystem.

First, such support will be expanded for the development of a range of no-carbon energy sources such as next-generation solar cells, mega-size offshore floating systems for wind power, cutting-edge small modular reactors, advanced secondary batteries, technologies for producing, storing and shipping hydrogen, and wave power production.

The ministry will also boost the development of alternative technologies for petroleum such as fuel and products based on biomass sources and the recycling of waste resources. It will also develop technologies for carbon capture, storage and utilization, natural sinks and energy flexibility systems.

For adaptation to climate change, the plan has scenarios to respond to shifts in oceans and coastal areas due to climate change and seek responses. It will support the development of technologies for monitoring and predicting climate change such as a spatial information map for greenhouse gas emissions and a national climate prediction system.

To create an innovative ecosystem, infrastructure will be built to develop future nuclear power technologies and boost awareness of climate change through the setup of carbon-neutral interactive centers in regions. Support will go to joint research by domestic and foreign institutions specializing in climate technology and incubation of human resources and startups to meet research and industrial demand.

The ministry said, "Through running a government-wide consultative body on climate technology comprising the central and local governments, we will regularly share the overall status of policy implementation and review the outcomes to build a carbon-neutral society based on science and technology."

caudouin@korea.kr