S. Korea strengthens measures to tackle "social disaster" fine dust issue
- 5 years ago
정부, 지속적인 미세먼지 저감 대책... 2022년에는 좋아진다
The South Korean government is continuing efforts to reduce the country's fine dust level... following its introduction of a special act on reducing the toxic smog.
For the final part of our 3-part series on Korea's worsening fine dust problem,... our Cha Sang-mi gives us a walk through the government's countermeasures.
South Korea brought in its first set of measures to address fine dust in September 2017 and those measures were strengthened in November of last year.
Then the special act on fine dust reduction and management came into effect this February, banning old diesel cars on the roads nationwide and limiting the operation of old coal power plants during high fine dust levels.
The government has become more focused on the issue since the fine dust was designated as a "social disaster" at the National Assembly this month, passing eight bills related to the matter.
"Following South Korea’s worst-ever levels of fine dust,... here in the administrative city of Sejong, the environment and transport ministries, other related agencies, and most importantly the fine dust countermeasures task force... are working closely to combat the issue.
But while it's hard to see the effects of these measures, the task force says they are having an impact.
"When compared to 2017, the average fine dust level dropped about 2 micrograms from 25 to 23 last year, but due to ultrafine dust, it doesn't feel much better. We aim to improve the air quality by 2022 through a range of measures."
One of which is a joint cloud seeding project with China,.. believed to be one of the major contributors to Korea's air pollution.
Cloud Seeding is used in several countries, including the dry deserts of the United Arab Emirates.
"There is a big fluctuation of annual rainfall amount in the country. But because the cloud seeding depends mainly on the availability for cloud seeding, so some clouds are suitable. So in this case, the annual rainfall amount, there's a big fluctuation."
Mr. Farrah says that the UAE sees an average 20 percent increase in rainfall
with cloud seeding, and says that although it needs a particular set of conditions... it will help wash fine dust out of the sky for Korea.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.
The South Korean government is continuing efforts to reduce the country's fine dust level... following its introduction of a special act on reducing the toxic smog.
For the final part of our 3-part series on Korea's worsening fine dust problem,... our Cha Sang-mi gives us a walk through the government's countermeasures.
South Korea brought in its first set of measures to address fine dust in September 2017 and those measures were strengthened in November of last year.
Then the special act on fine dust reduction and management came into effect this February, banning old diesel cars on the roads nationwide and limiting the operation of old coal power plants during high fine dust levels.
The government has become more focused on the issue since the fine dust was designated as a "social disaster" at the National Assembly this month, passing eight bills related to the matter.
"Following South Korea’s worst-ever levels of fine dust,... here in the administrative city of Sejong, the environment and transport ministries, other related agencies, and most importantly the fine dust countermeasures task force... are working closely to combat the issue.
But while it's hard to see the effects of these measures, the task force says they are having an impact.
"When compared to 2017, the average fine dust level dropped about 2 micrograms from 25 to 23 last year, but due to ultrafine dust, it doesn't feel much better. We aim to improve the air quality by 2022 through a range of measures."
One of which is a joint cloud seeding project with China,.. believed to be one of the major contributors to Korea's air pollution.
Cloud Seeding is used in several countries, including the dry deserts of the United Arab Emirates.
"There is a big fluctuation of annual rainfall amount in the country. But because the cloud seeding depends mainly on the availability for cloud seeding, so some clouds are suitable. So in this case, the annual rainfall amount, there's a big fluctuation."
Mr. Farrah says that the UAE sees an average 20 percent increase in rainfall
with cloud seeding, and says that although it needs a particular set of conditions... it will help wash fine dust out of the sky for Korea.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.