South Korea
South Korea is already facing devastating impacts from climate change. This report collates scientific projections of how climate impacts will play out up to 2050 and 2100, on low, medium and high emissions pathways.
The science shows that South Korea will experience devastating climate impacts if it follows a high-emissions pathway. Without urgent action, heatwaves will last 1563% longer – increasing frequency of agricultural drought by 2050. Rising sea levels will cost South Korea $60 billion. And the combination of coastal erosion and fiercer weather will cause chaos for South Korea’s economy, which stands to lose around 3.73% of GDP by 2050.
The faster South Korea adopts low-carbon policies, the less the climate impacts cascade and the more manageable they become. Limiting temperature rise to 2°C will see the cost of climate impacts in South Korea drop to just 1.15% of its GDP by 2050.
Image © Sungwoo Lee / Greenpeace
Climate
Explore past, present and future scenarios for climate change in South Korea. This section uses the most up to date climate science models to describe how climate change will affect temperature and precipitation trends in South Korea. The research shows that on a high carbon pathway, temperatures in South Korea could increase by as much as 2.5°C by 2050. On a low carbon pathway this drops to 1.7°C.
Ocean
How have sea temperatures changed in the oceans surrounding South Korea, and what do future climate trends mean for the vital ecosystems and livelihoods supported by South Korea’s oceans? This section shows how surface sea temperatures in South Korea could increase by 2.2°C by 2050 in a high carbon scenario, triggering a sharp rise in ocean acidification and reducing fish catch potential by as much as 2.7%.
Coast
A changing climate could have devastating effects on South Korea’s coastal settlements, infrastructure and ecosystems. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion and changing storm patterns could see 0.42 million people exposed to devastating floods by 2050, if it follows a high carbon pathway. Following a low carbon pathway and investing in climate-resilient coastal infrastructure will help South Korea avoid the worst coastal impacts.
Water
Clean water is the foundation of all life. This section shows the increasing impacts from climate change threaten our access to water in South Korea. Longer droughts, rising sea levels and more extreme weather will increase in the coming decades, choking off our most precious resource. In turn, that impacts agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure and tourism – causing massive economic costs. Only a low-carbon pathway can limit the damage.
Agriculture
Agriculture is a core element of South Korea’s economy, contributing approximately 1.8% of the country’s annual GDP. This section shows the past, present and future impacts of climate change on South Korea’s agriculture sector. It shows how climate change will impact crop productivity and put additional strain on South Korea’s water resources, with droughts causing water demand to increase by up to 6.2% by 2050 – even in a low carbon scenario.
Forest
Forests are key to clean healthy air – supporting thriving ecosystems and economies. This section shows the past, present and future impacts of climate change on forests in South Korea. If carbon levels remain high, huge losses in forest land will grow, damaging South Korea’s agriculture, forestry and tourism industries. With urgent action, a low-carbon pathway will protect our forests from the worst impacts.
Urban
Cities in South Korea face many threats from climate change. Unless we take urgent action, increasing extreme weather will batter urban communities across the country – damaging crucial infrastructure and causing massive economic losses. Increasing heatwaves and worsening air quality will harm urban residents’ health and even cost many their lives.
Health
The health of our planet is essential to the health of people in South Korea. Without urgent action, climate change will drive longer heatwaves, rising sea levels and deadly storms, harming South Korea’s economy. Higher poverty means worse health impacts. But on a low-carbon pathway, South Korea can improve health outcomes and save lives.
Energy
Rising temperatures and more severe heatwaves will affect South Korea’s energy system and change the profile of its energy demand.
Economic Impacts
Heatwaves, droughts, fires, floods and brutal storms. South Korea faces multiple threats from climate change. Across sectors – agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, tourism and more – the costs to the economy could be massive. Without urgent action, South Korea stands to lose 3.73% of its GDP by 2050. That rises to 11.68% by 2100. By investing in a low-carbon economy now, South Korea can limit those losses to 1.15% by 2050.
Policy
This section explores South Korea’s historic and current emissions as compared with global emissions, and the targets and commitments it has put in place. South Korea is the 12th biggest emitter among the G20 countries. Urgent political action is necessary in South Korea to secure a low carbon future.
