South Korea
Climate change impacts
It takes only 189 days for the average Canadian to produce as much greenhouse gases as the average Korean will produce over the course of the entire year. Therefore, July 8th (189 days into the year) is "Climate Change Impacts in South Korea Day."
South Korea’s Second National Communication under the UNFCCC provides a summary of the potential impacts of climate changes on the country. In agriculture, potential impacts include a northward advancement of cultivation areas; threat to productivity of crops; and hindrance to productivity and stability of agricultural ecosystem. Forests may be impacted by a change in “insect pests and plant pathogens outbreaks.” A rise in sea level may cause “coastal erosion and washing away of coastal infrastructure,” while a rise in temperature will lead to a “change in marine ecosystem and fisheries resources.” An increase in damage from floods, drought, and typhoons is also listed. Finally South Korea is also vulnerable to “increased damage from quantitative and qualitative decline of water resources” and “increases in stress and diseases from heat.”
For more information about climate change impact on Republic of Korea, continue reading the 'Second National Communication of the Republic of Korea under the UNFCCC'.
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Carl Atteniese Jr., Republic of Korea:
“I cannot say with any great duress that climate change has affected me as it has others, such as people who have suffered the effects of the tsunamis, or drought, or torrential rains, or dangers due to wild animal migrations, etc. But in relationships, I have suffered – perhaps not due to the climate issues themselves, but due to my attemptsto talk to people about the environment here in Korea.”
To read about Carl’s experiences with talking about climate change, visit WWF’s Climate Witness page.
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