Environment Pollution and Climate Change
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of the Problems: It has been scientifically proved that the emission of human-induced greenhouse gases is the major contributor to climate change. A variety of strategies are being implemented to reduce the emission of human-induced greenhouse gases at a global, national and regional level for achieving low-carbon and carbon-neutral society. However, the ultimate goal of climate change strategy is to achieve carbon-free society which is the state of, climate before industrialization advanced in the 18th century. Nonetheless, it is quite rare to establish the framework of carbon-free society. Contents of Presentation: In the context mentioned above, this paper will present a framework for achieving carbon-free society through overcoming the limitations inherent in the existing framework promoting low-carbon and carbon-neutral society. The presentation will be composed of three parts. First: The difference in the concept and implication of low-carbon, carbon-neutral and carbon-free society will be examined. Second: The limitations inherent in the low-carbon and carbon-neutral frameworks will be critically examined in terms of their strategies for achieving the state of climate before industrialization has been advanced in the 18th century. Third: A framework for achieving carbon-free society will be presented in a way to overcoming the limitations inherent in the existing low-carbon and carbon-neutral frameworks, focusing on overall direction of naturebased and technology-based approach, major socio-economic sectors and strategies to be included, and methodologies for analyzing the efficiency and effectiveness of the strategies. Conclusion & Significance: No country/region currently has all requirements necessary for promoting carbon-free society. In this context, as a concluding remark, what capacity should be built will be discussed. In a word, the key significance of the presentation is in seeking for the direction and contents of achieving carbon-free society which is the ultimate destination of climate change strategy. Recent Publications 1. Jeong D-Y (2011) An effectiveness analysis of climate change policy in South Korea. Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment 20(5):585–600. 2. Jeong D-Y (2009) An international comparative research on environmental carrying capacity among islands. Korean Social Science Journal 36(2):195–230.

Biography

Dai-Yeun Jeong is presently the Director of Asia Climate Change Education Center and an Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sociology at Jeju National University in South Korea. He received BA and MA Degree in Sociology from Korea University (South Korea), and PhD in Environmental Sociology from The University of Queensland (Australia). He was a Professor of Sociology at Jeju National University (South Korea) from 1981 to 2012. His past major professional activities include a Teaching Professor at the University of Sheffield in UK, the President of Asia-Pacific Sociological Association, a Delegate of South Korean Government to UNFCCC, a Delegate of South Korean Government to OECD Environmental Meeting, and a Member of Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development, Republic of Korea, etc. He has published 60 environment-related research papers in domestic and international journals and 13 books including Environmental Sociology. He has conducted 91 unpublished environment-related research projects funded by domestic and international organizations.

E-mail: jeongdy@jejunu.ac.kr