The Korea Herald

[Graphic News] S. Korea faces severe drought

Oct 7, 2015

Most regions of the country are suffering a severe drought particularly Seoul City and its surrounding areas, officials said Wednesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the accumulated precipitation in the country from January to early this month recorded 754.3 milliliters, accounting for only 63 percent of the average of the past 30 years -- 1,189 milliliters. Seoul ...
Korean professor elected to lead U.N. panel on climate change

Oct 7, 2015

A South Korean sustainable development expert was elected as the new chief of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Tuesday, the organization said. Lee Hoe-sung, a Korea University professor known for his expertise in energy-environment policy, was selected to succeed Rajendra Pachauri as chairman of the U.N. panel in a vote at a meeting in Croatia, the IPCC said in a press release on...
Wildland fire forum to kick off in Pyeongchang

Sept 29, 2015

The world’s leading authorities in nature, forest and culture will kick off the sixth International Wildland Fire Conference next month, the South Korean forest agency said Tuesday. With the theme “Fire of the Past, Fire in Future,” the international fire summit will run from Oct. 12-16 in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, to discuss ways to protect natural and cultural heritage from fire. The f...
Pope calls for tackling climate change

Sept 24, 2015

Pope Francis called Wednesday for urgent efforts to tackle climate change, calling it a problem that shouldn't be passed onto future generations, as he delivered his first address on a landmark visit to the United States. "I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution," the pope said at a welcoming ceremony at the White House before talks with President Ba...
Limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius ‘achievable’

Sept 17, 2015

PARIS ― Deeply reducing greenhouse gas emissions is technically and economically feasible in the world’s largest economies and developing countries, an international research consortium’s report showed Thursday. According to the “Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project’s 2015 Synthesis Report,” limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius is achievable as long as the countries keep the “three pill...
Korea boosts presence in Indonesian forest industry

Sept 3, 2015

The Korea Forest Service is elevating Korea’s presence in the global forestation scene with the Korean forest welfare model, chipping in large-scale investments in the production of sustainable energy in Indonesia. In 2009 Korea and Indonesia signed a cooperative agreement on fostering the production of wood pellets on 200,000 hectares of Indonesian soil. Wood pellets, or fuel made from bioma...
KFS spreads state-of-the-art forest leisure know-how to Indonesia

Sept 3, 2015

The Korea Forest Service has successfully brought the nation’s advanced expertise in the forest leisure industry and ecological tourism to Indonesia, widening the scope of environmental cooperation between the two nations. KFS, the state agency for afforestation and forest resources, invited around 30 islanders of Lombok, a global vacation venue in Indonesia, to learn Korea’s latest green leisu...
Korea Forest Service adds to urban greenery

Sept 3, 2015

The Korea Forest Service joined hands with citizens and entrepreneurs to bring green forests to hectic urban societies, spurring sustainable urban living in Korea. KFS, the state agency for afforestation and forest resources, has been seeking ways to secure more green spaces around the living spaces in urban areas, which fall far below the global standards. Korea’s minimum area of urban living ...
Environmentalists to sue state over cable car plan

Sept 1, 2015

Environmentalists vowed Tuesday to launch a legal battle against the government over its recent decision to allow the construction of a cable car in one of the country’s most preserved national parks. Several environmental groups, including Green Korea United, said they would seek revocation against the government’s approval for the cable car project on Mount Seoraksan in Gangwon Province, claim...
S. Korea pledges cooperation for fight against climate change

Sept 1, 2015

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Monday pledged that South Korea will work closely with the international community to curb climate change affecting the Arctic and to ensure the sustainable development of the polar region. Yun made the pledge during the Conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic that the United States hosted in Anchorage, Alaska, to focus world attention on climate change aff...
[Newsmaker] Cable car approval touches off dispute

Aug 30, 2015

The government’s decision to allow the construction of a second cable car route on Mount Seoraksan last week drew mixed reactions over the weekend, with civic groups blasting authorities for ignoring its potential environmental impact and local residents calling it a business opportunity. The Environment Ministry’s national park committee on Friday agreed to allow Yangyang County Office of Gangw...
Environment ministry OKs controversial cable car on Mount Seorak

Aug 28, 2015

The Ministry of Environment on Friday gave its approval for a cable car to be set up on a popular mountain range near South Korea's eastern coast, a plan that has been criticized for its potential harm to the regional environment. The construction plan calls for a 3.5-kilometer long cable car system to be built at the southern region of Mount Seorak in Yangyang County, about 215 kilometers east ...
Mountain cable car plan mired in controversy

Aug 26, 2015

Activists express environmental concerns while proponents emphasize economic benefits
[Photo News] Winners of SNUE-Korea Herald English Contest

Aug 5, 2015
White House cites Korea's carbon emission cut pledge as sign of growing international momentum

Aug 4, 2015

The White House on Monday cited South Korea's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions as an example that shows international momentum is building on the cause, as President Barack Obama announced a deeper carbon emissions reduction pledge. "We also saw significant commitment in just the last month or so from South Korea, and that's an indication that there is building momentum toward the clim...