Germany’s Agora Energivende (AGORA) is one of the world’s leading energy climate protection think tanks. About 120 employees present research related to Germany, Europe, and the world. The current Deputy Minister for Economic and Climate Protection in Germany was the former head of Agora. Dr. Yeom Kwang-hee, who served as an administrative officer in the Office of Climate and Environment Secretary at the Blue House under the Moon Jae-in government, is also working as a senior researcher in charge of Korea. Dimitri Pecia, senior researcher in charge of Southeast Asia at Agora (pictured), said in an interview with EPN, “Korea needs more effort than Germany to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”
In Korea, renewable energy is considered more expensive than nuclear power. How did renewable energy become so cheap in Germany?
It is true that the expansion of renewable energy has raised consumers’ electricity prices in the long run. However, technological advances have made it possible to produce energy very cheaply now. In places with abundant resources, such as solar and wind power, electricity can be produced for less than 2 euros per kWh. It is much cheaper than a new nuclear power plant that takes a long time to build. Fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal have already lost their economic value under the carbon trading system. Fossil fuels are energy that costs more the more you use it.
What was Germany’s energy transition like?
Following the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and the Fukushima accident in 2011, a national consensus was reached on the abolition of nuclear power plants. They also agreed to pay more for electricity to expand renewable energy. Many citizens also benefit from renewable energy investments. But there is still a long way to go. To achieve the carbon-neutral goal of 2045, we need to reduce our carbon by doubling each year compared to the previous year.
After the energy crisis, there is a view that Germany is changing its policy away from nuclear power.
Deferring the abolition of nuclear power until April next year is only a short-term policy. Germany’s long-term climate goals have not changed. The nuclear phase-out and coal phase-out continue. In particular, the shutdown of nuclear power plants in 2023 is expected to proceed unconditionally.
How would you rate Korea’s response to the climate crisis?
Korea’s electricity consumption in 2021 is 553 TWh (terawatt hour), which is similar to Germany (565 TWh). During peak hours, Korea consumes more electricity. Considering the size of Korea’s economy, it is regrettable that it does not show the same ‘decoupling (reducing greenhouse gas emissions while the economy is growing)’ like Germany. It is true that Korea needs more effort than Germany to achieve carbon neutrality. Among Asian countries, Vietnam is rapidly distributing renewable energy with the active support of the government.
Although many Koreans feel the seriousness of the climate crisis, they also believe that advanced countries, which achieved economic growth through carbon emissions in the past, are putting too much pressure on latecomers.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the greatest challenge for mankind. Considering that extreme weather events caused by climate change are concentrated in less-developed countries, the distinction between developed and underdeveloped countries is meaningless. The Paris Agreement specifies technology transfer and support related to climate crisis to developing countries. Support for developing countries needs to be further expanded for rapid greenhouse gas reduction.
© EPN