South Korea to begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles

The Environment Ministry in South Korea announced that it will start enforcing regulations regarding greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles next year. The new regulations will begin with a goal of having all new vehicles meet the government’s auto-emissions standard of 140 grams per kilometer by 2015. The new regulations will apply to all domestic and imported cars carrying 10 passengers or less. The Ministry expects to reduce emissions by 12.2%, from 159 grams per kilometer in 2009, with the new law. The Ministry said in a statement, “With the regulation, a total of 3.7 million tons of carbon dioxide is expected to be reduced during the 2009-2020 period. It will also save 1.2 billion liters of gasoline, worth 2.4 trillion won (US$2.2 billion), and 400 million liters of diesel oil, worth 720 billion won (US$661.2 million).” The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks South Korea as one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters, emitting 594 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2005. (June 8,2011)