On the occasion of the 52nd Earth Day, young people held an event to collect trash at a Wetland Ecological Park. The ecological park still has traces of salt fields and narrow-gauge train tracks from the past. It was crowded with families and lovers enjoying spring.
The citizens watching the young people picking up trash were moved by their efforts. The writer was proud to see the response of the young people to the conservation of the mudflats. Trash had decreased. Rare would persons indiscriminately throw trash away in a park, but it must also be because there is less trash flowing into the ecological park.
The vast west coast tidal flats have become smaller. Although it was a spawning ground and site for many fish and shellfish, it's now turned mostly into apartments and industrial complexes. What memories did environmental organizations' Earth Day activities convey to citizens visiting the park?
As the mudflats disappear, the seawater, which used to come in and out twice a day, stops in front of the apartment complex. Can the Ecological Park, and Ultra High-rise Apartment Complexes remain safe even if the earth gets hotter?
Meteorologists claim that the number of typhoons will become stronger when the seawater gets warmer by 1 degree Celsius, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the United Nations recently released a report. If warming is not prevented, the sea level will rise by 90cm by the end of this century.
Even though environmental groups warned of a crisis 52 years ago, governments turned a blind eye or suppressed the news, change came slowly.
As climate talks continue, many pretend to listen. Our government declared carbon neutrality by 2050, which the IPCC evaluated as insufficient. They warned we would avoid catastrophe only if carbon neutrality was achieved by 2040, but the present regime, about to be launched, is in doubt.
The previous government's policy if implemented, electricity prices would rise and GDP decrease, increasing nuclear power plants. However, as confirmed by the Fukushima accident, nuclear power plants are currently not secure. The related research is now unknown, will it suddenly become possible?
The problem of climate change in the face of crisis is greenhouse gas due to energy and consumption, and of course, Korea is not able to solve all the problems.
Nuclear power plant electricity is only about 30% in Korea. Most countries are under 30 percent or without nuclear power. Exceptions are France and some countries, which are trying to reduce the risk to less than 50%. The total amount of energy spent building, operating, and disposing of them is seen by many as not the answer to preventing climate change with nuclear power. This is why Europe is reluctant to classify nuclear power as eco-friendly.
50 years ago climate change was not a pressing issue. The energy was not considered necessary for the enjoyment of life. Even if we have less than we have now we should look at our happy ancestors. We need happiness that is sustainable.
