포스트 코로나 시대 국제환경협력 전략 연구 = International Environmental Cooperation Strategies for Post-COVID Era

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

1. Background
□ The global spread of COVID-19 in 2020 led to environmental, health, and economic crises.
ㅇ The COVID-19 pandemic caused the trilateral crisis of ‘eco-economic -climate crisis’.
ㅇ A new approach and reflection on the existing development methods that brought about ecological damage and the climate crisis are needed.
2. Objective
□ Establishment of an international environmental cooperation strategy in the Post-COVID Era
ㅇ Diagnosis of the current and future impacts and trends of international environmental cooperation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ㅇ Development of an international environmental cooperation strategy to lead international cooperation in the environmental field in the Post-COVID Era.
Ⅱ. Domestic and International Environmental Issues related to COVID-19
1. The status of COVID-19 outbreaks
□ Global trends
ㅇ The number of patients infected with COVID-19 has been continuously increasing, with 47,405,395 cumulative confirmed cases and a total of 1,213,735 cumulative deaths worldwide, as of November 4, 2020.
□ Domestic trends
ㅇ As of November 4, a total of 26,925 cases were confirmed and the number of deaths was 474, which shows that the virus is rapidly spreading not only in the metropolitan area but across the nation.
2. COVID-19 and domestic and foreign environmental factors
□ Covid-19 quarantine measures and environmental impact factors
ㅇ The first path of environmental impact factors for various preventive activities to prevent the spread COVID-19 pandemic and test-trace-treatment measures named ‘3T’ for COVID-19 patients.
- Potential risk factors affecting the environment, such as soil, water quality, and atmosphere during the generation, collection, transport, and incineration of large amounts of medical waste.
- Impact of personal quarantine activities, such as wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19 infection, and disinfecting the environment.
□ Changes in traffic and energy and water use
ㅇ Air quality improvement due to the reduction in traffic and energy use
ㅇ An increased share of household water use in the total water use
□ Structural change of the overall socio-economic field and environmental issues
ㅇ The emergence and settlement of a non-face-to-face (untact) society causes fundamental changes in lifestyle and consumption methods.
ㅇ Acceleration of the digital economy caused by COVID-19 leads to unmanned, automated, and online spaces and economic entities such as consumers, companies, factories, etc.
3. COVID-19 and domestic and international environmental issues
□ Medical and safety measures and environmental issues in COVID-19 prevention
ㅇ Increased risks of air, soil, and water pollution due to the increase in medical waste
- From January 23 to August 25, 2020, a total of 3,023 tons of medical waste was incinerated due to COVID-19 which was about 12 times larger than the amount of medical waste generated during the MERS outbreak in 2015.
- Potential risks of COVID-19 virus spreading in wastewater including hospital wastewater and drinking water.
- It is necessary to establish safe treatment equipment, facilities, and systems for medical waste related to COVID-19.
□ Restrictions on COVID-19 quarantine measures, socio-economic structural changes, and environmental issues
ㅇ Improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
ㅇ Increase in waste discharge: Due to the environmental impact factors that occurred in the second path, such as restrictions on socio-economic and daily activities including ‘social distancing’, and voluntary self-restraint actions, the amount of parcel delivery surged following the increase in online consumption.
□ COVID-19-Environment-Human interrelationship and environmental issues.
ㅇ Wildlife management and infectious diseases: The increased number of viruses transmitted to humans and the risk of spread of common infectious diseases due to increased human-to-wild animal contact due to development and urbanization.
ㅇ COVID-19 and climate change: Climate change affects the frequency of occurrence of viral infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and it is likely to act as an environmental factor suitable for transmission of infectious diseases.
ㅇ COVID-19, environmental conditions, and environmental justice: COVID-19 occurs regardless of country, region, occupation, and class, but the coping capacity and damage level are different among countries, regions, classes, and races depending on socioeconomic, occupational, and environmental conditions as well as health conditions.
Ⅲ. Domestic and International Environmental Measures to Respond to COVID-19 and Future Directions
1. Environmental measures in response to COVID-19 by major international organization and country
□ Major international organizations
ㅇ UNEP: Published a fact sheet on the management of COVID-19-related waste such as medical waste for environmental and health protection, titled ‘No Uncontrolled Dumping, No Open Burning’.
ㅇ OECD: In order to block future viral pandemics through 「Environmental Health and strengthening resilience to pandemics」, it is necessary to strengthen resilience, and an integrated approach that considers human health and environmental health at the same time.
□ Major countries
ㅇ Korea: Promote environmental measures such as prompt and safe disposal of medical waste, safety measures for sterilization and disinfection of facilities, supplies, and individuals, prevention of the inflow of wild animals from abroad, and safe disposal of household waste.
ㅇ U.S.: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distributes ‘Cleaning and Disinfection Guides in Public Places, Workplaces, Offices, Schools, and Homes.
ㅇ EU: The European Federation of National Association of Water Services (EurEau) has tested drinking water and wastewater for coronavirus and published the results and the ‘Waste Management in the Context of the Coronavirus Crisis’.
ㅇ China: Preventing the spread of coronavirus to the outside environment, focusing on major coronavirus outbreak areas such as Wuhan, safe treatment of coronavirus-contaminated medical waste, and promoting environmental management in consideration of economic recovery in the time of COVID-19 stabilization.
3. Future direction of environmental policy in response to COVID-19
□ Major international organizations
ㅇ UN: Call for action for just recovery through ‘A Time to Save the Sick and Rescue the Planet’
ㅇ OECD: Presenting an approach that takes COVID-19 as an opportunity to transform into a better society
ㅇ UNEP: Blocking the chain of infectious diseases and suggesting ten measures for better reconstruction
ㅇ Others: Policy proposals linked to economic recovery packages in response to COVID-19, such as linking climate resilience and economic stimulus measures, etc.
□ Major countries
ㅇ Korea: The ‘Green New Deal’ policy was announced through the ‘Korean New Deal’ as a strategy for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and responding to the climate environment crisis, emphasizing the digital New Deal in response to the non-face-to-face (unact) society cthat has emerged due to.
ㅇ U.S.: Present linking policies for overcoming COVID-19 and responding to the climate crisis, making the transition to a clean economy and creating jobs, and restoring the role of a global leader in responding to climate change as the basis of the pledge in the field of climate and environment
ㅇ European Countries: Emphasis on digital investment, just recovery, and a ‘better reconstruction policy’ - ‘Climate change and environmental protection policies, measures, and actions in the context of overcoming COVID-19 in Germany’ and the 15-minute City of Paris, France, etc.
ㅇ China: From 2021 to 2035, the direction of the long-term environmental strategy is set to ‘promote green development and harmony as well as coexistence between humans and nature’
Ⅳ. Strategies for Promoting International Environmental Cooperation in the Post-COVID Era
1. COVID-19 pandemic and international environmental cooperation status
□ COVID-19 and international environmental cooperation
ㅇ Cancellation and delay of international environmental conferences negatively affect environmental negotiations and implementation.
- Cancellation and postponement of major international environmental meetings such as the 25th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the 22nd Korea-China-Japan Environment Ministers’ Meeting
- Delays and temporary suspension of implementation of environmental agreements due to delays in holding international conferences
□ International environmental cooperation trends in international organizations and major countries
ㅇ International organizations have mostly created non-face-to-face online communication channels for international cooperation and although partial and limited, are establishing, disseminating, and sharing environmental countermeasures and strategies for coping with COVID-19, as well as holding various online meetings.
ㅇ In the case of Germany, international cooperation is included as one of the four strategies in the policy on climate change and environmental protection in the context of COVID-19 recovery.
ㅇ Japan seeks international momentum by building an online platform called the ‘Platform for Redesign 2020’ to recover from COVID-19 in a sustainable and resilient way.
ㅇ Korea is promoting related activities such as online video conferencing to disseminate the Green New Deal policy to the international community and discuss international cooperation measures for responding to COVID-19.
2. Conditions for international environmental cooperation in the post-COVID-era and characteristics of new normals
□ External conditions
ㅇ Changes in the international order due to the COVID-19 pandemic: 1) proliferation of the phenomenon of weakened global multilateral governance (international organizations and international agreements), 2) opening of the international community, the accelerated decline in globalization, and realization of changes in the structure of the international branch office system, 3) continued strategic competition and conflict between the United States and China and the weakened global leadership, 4) emergence of the new global leadership, such as soft power in middle power countries that effectively carried out COVID-19 quarantine, and 5) emergence of environmental and health issues as core agenda items in international politics.
ㅇ Influence of changes in international relations and the international order on international environmental cooperation: 1) as the international cooperation system becomes vulnerable, it weakens international environmental regimes such as the Paris Convention on Climate Change and decreases the effectiveness and reliability of international cooperation and 2) at a global level, with reflection on the existing development-oriented and human-centered development methods from the perspective of the history of civilization, a positive environment for expanding the scope of international environmental cooperation is created. In addition, various international cooperation opportunities in green technologies and industries for responding to the Paris Agreement are expected to be created.
□ Internal conditions
ㅇ Policy for the internationalization of ‘K-quarantine’ and the ‘Green New Deal’ to lead the international community based on the successful cases of ‘K-quarantine’ in response to COVID-19.
ㅇ Establishment of the ‘National ODA Strategy for COVID-19 Response’ and the prospects of strengthened ODA for overcoming COVID-19.
ㅇ The government plans to expand international environmental cooperation to participate in and lead the world’s green recovery strategy to overcome COVID-19 in connection with the Green New Deal.
□ Key features of new normal in the international environmental cooperation
ㅇ Establish an online method to cope with the unstable and unexpected situations of cross-border movement due to blockades and restrictions resulting from the frequent infectious diseases and pandemic.
ㅇ A non-face-to-face (untact) implementation mechanism is established and expanded according to the creation of a non-face-to-face society.
ㅇ A shift toward securing the life security of not only humans but all living things.
ㅇ Integrated international cooperation under the banner of ‘One Health’ to respond to emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic as well as daily cooperation for human and environmental protection.
3. International environmental cooperation promotion strategy in the Post-COVID Era
□ Basic direction of international environmental cooperation in response to COVID-19
ㅇ Five basic directions
- Resolving immediate environmental problems caused by COVID-19, such as safe disposal of medical wast.
- Based on the experience of COVID-19 quarantine, present an international cooperation model that combines the technology and know-how of K-prevention and medical waste treatment technology as a package.
- In line with the international trend that is shifting from the existing ‘human-centered’ cooperation to cooperation for ‘protection of all life on earth,’ create and lead the model of international environmental cooperation in response to the new normal of the post-COVID-era and renew the foundation for cooperation.
- In order to overcome COVID-19 and respond to the climate crisis, closely link diplomatic strategies such as the Korean New Deal and the New Southern policy and at the same time, promote bilateral or multilateral cooperation programs by closely reviewing policies in major countries and regions such as President-elect Joe Biden’s climate and environmental policies and the European Green Deal.
□ Implementation strategy and cooperation tasks
ㅇ Strategy for each of the three goals
- Strategies to achieve the goal of ‘improving resilience over COVID-19’: 1) strengthening cooperation in building green infrastructure to prevent infectious diseases and 2) establishing a cooperation system for preventing and coping with infectious diseases.
- Strategies for achieving the goal of ‘building a safe global village from the climate crisis’: 1) reinforcing decarbonization, green recovery, and cooperation for social/urban system development and 2) expanding support for disaster response systems in countries vulnerable to natural disasters.
- Strategies to achieve the goal of ‘realizing the establishment of the new normal, non-face-to-face environmental cooperation system’: 1) construction of an eco-friendly online communication system and capacity building support system and 2) creation of international cooperation initiatives and establishment of an integrated domestic environmental cooperation system.