Coal Plants and People's Rights

 Coal Plants against People's Rights for a Healthy Environment

Ongoing construction of Samcheok Blue Power coal plant's docking area

by: Abraham Sumalinog

South Korea is one of the fastest-growing economies both in Asia and globally. The nation's K-Pop, soap operas, and technological advancements surprise and capture the world's attention. However, all this cultural recognition and technological progress require massive energy from fossil fuels which are hazardous to all living things and against people's wishes.

South Korea uses coal (44%) and nuclear (23%)) as its major sources of electricity. This scenario shows that despite the nation's cultural and technological development, it lags behind advanced countries transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources. Korea is the world's twelfth largest economy but the seventh-largest carbon emitter. Moreover, the country derives only 5% of its energy needs from renewable energy, the lowest among the OECD countries based on the International Energy Agency's data.

Despite the election promises of its elected leaders to reduce fossil fuels, it is determined to build additional coal-fired plants and nuclear plants. This action (policy) is recently being heavily protested by residents, climate and environmental activists, and various concerned groups through letters, press releases, daily protests, environmental and climate walks, and even a hunger strike (ongoing).

Samcheok Blue Power Coal-Fired Plant

Samcheok Blue Power Coal-Fired Plant is at the heart of major protests demanding the construction to cease. This coal plant is one of seven fossil fuel plants currently under construction in South Korea believed to emit 390 metric tonnes of greenhouse gases in its lifetime once completed. A poll among residents in Samcheok City recorded that 60% are against the coal plant's construction due to various health hazards and more perceivable negative impacts. The coal-plant emissions, including sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, are linked to major health risks to residents who are mostly living in Samcheok City, just five kilometers away from the coal plant. Samcheok Blue Power coal plant is designed to burn up ten tonnes of coal daily.

The Samcheok coal-fired plant observers and protesters have already seen environmental degradation in the construction site, particularly in the beach area. The docking area for coal delivery ships is being constructed along the pristine five-kilometer-long stretch of Maengbang Beach. Soil and sand erosion along the beach areas are the most noticeable environmental issues.

Aside from environmental degradation, health hazards, cultural assets destruction, and threats to marine life, the Samcheok Blue Power plant has financial risks. South Korea's ten largest asset managers said they would not invest in the Samcheok plant. Not supporting coal projects will impair the financing of the Samcheok plant, which needs over USD700 million to become functional, according to Financial Times.

Shrinking Civic Space

Members of the 'Samcheok Committee Against Samcheok Blue Power' also happened to be participants in the protest against the canceled nuclear plant due to their protest actions in the past. The civic space was narrow and unforgiving, causing much suffering due to the severity of the violence inflicted upon peaceful protesters. Although the peaceful actions by Samcheok coal plant protesters are persistent and unrestrained, they are often carried out under tight surveillance and the watchful eye of a strong police presence.

 'Samcheok Committee Against Samcheok Blue Power' together with most environmental and climate change groups, religious groups, and concerned citizens, are protesting not only against the construction of Samcheok coal-fired plant but also demanding the phase-out of nuclear and coal power plants.

Stories of backdoor and illegal deals surrounding the construction of the Samcheok coal plant are the talk of the town; however, they fear to publicly mention these stories due to dangers of legal retaliation as they lack concrete evidence. Leaflets claiming that there are illegal deals were disseminated by a group (Citizens' Solidarity for the Elimination of Corruption) demanding clarification and accountability of the allegations, according to an online Korean news media.

Fair Share and Climate Commitment

Some Korean development banks still support projects that promote fossil fuels, including coal-fired plants in Indonesia and Vietnam. Domestically, the same companies promote the local coal-fired plant construction, including the Samcheok Blue Power coal-fired plant.

South Korea has 56 active coal-fired plants and 7 more under construction, including the Samcheok Blue Power coal-fired plant. Considered the seventh-largest global carbon emitter in 2017, South Korea needs to adopt ambitious policies and implement bold actions to fulfill its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. 

Given the present status of South Korea's climate action, climate research institutions categorized its fair share range as "highly insufficient." A country with this range is not consistent with keeping global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, let alone the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degrees Celsius limit, according to climateactiontracker.org. In short, South Korea needs to take bold and ambitious decisions to meet its pledges and targets and update its current policy projections. The nation commits to zero emissions following suit with Japan and China. South Korea's Green New Deal aims to end the financing of coal plants, introduce a carbon tax, and establish a foundation for new and renewable energy and industries with low-carbon emissions.