Ulsan’s introduction of a successful carbon point system draws notice
Ulsan Metropolitan City, located in South Kyungsang Province, has made the contraction effect of green house gas more visible through the introduction of a successful carbon point system.
The city recently stated that 48,131 units, including households, commercial institutions and apartment complexes had joined the carbon point system from July to December last year, helping to achieve a 513 ton drop in carbon gas emissions. The accomplishment came to light after an inspection into the total usage of public utilities, such as electricity, gas and water. Ulsan Metropolitan citizens were revealed to have saved 125,000kWh of electricity, 57,656 ton of water and 182,361 square meters of LPG last year, and as a result, contributed to the significant drop in green house gas emissions. Citizens are expected to receive numerous incentives based on how much they decrease carbon emissions by virtue of the carbon point system. It is estimated that the incentives will total 150 million won in terms of cash, of which apartment complexes will receive the majority and the rest going to individuals.
Two apartment complexes are expected to receive 10 million won each, with 35 housing lots expected to receive payments of between 1 million to 5 million won.
Last year, the city induced 48,000 households to join the carbon point system, significantly more than the 20,000 households originally planned. The city seeks to maintain this successful trend by planning to encourage a total of 60,000 households to enter into the system by the end of this year.
The city’s goal of 60,000 units participating in the carbon point system is highly achievable following reports that 59,000 households had already joined the system by April this year. Consequently, the city government recently increased its target to 70,000 units.
As has been shown, the carbon point system is a practical program that allows people to participate in attempts to decrease carbon emissions. The program aims at embodying a low-carbon, pollution-free society. To do this more efficiently, both central and local governments provide various incentives to homes, offices, public organizations, and schools seeking to reduce carbon emissions.
However, we continue to burn fossil fuels for electricity (from coal and gas) in our homes, businesses, cars and flights, as well as to create food, clothes and other things every day. Carbon points enable individuals and businesses to reduce their CO2 emissions by offsetting, reducing or displacing the CO2 in another place, typically where it is more economical to do so. Gradually, the wide spread use of the carbon point system will result in the increased use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.
Anyone who wants to join the carbon point system can become a member by visiting the website www.cpoint.or.kr. Members are able enjoy greater incentives by accumulating points. For example, in the case of CO2, a 10g (carbon one point) decreases is equal to 3 won, while a 1kW of electricity saving means a decrease of 424g of CO, and equal to 127 won. These incentives will be paid in cash, with the first payment coming this October.
The Ulsan Metropolitan City is in the southeast coastal region of Korea. Its population is approximately 1.1 million and its GRDP per capita around $45,000.
It is a bridgehead for entering overseas markets because it is located where the ocean meets the continent. Since it is only approximately two hours from major cities in East Asia, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Osaka, it is perfectly located for the nation to gain a strategic foothold.
As the industrial capital of Korea, Ulsan has tried to clean itself up in recent years, with citizens’ voluntary participation in the carbon point system paving the way toward a pollution-free city.