Published : Jan. 9, 2012 - 18:48
KDRT on a rescue operation in Japan on March 2011 after a massive earthquake
Large-scale disasters triggered by climate change have caused unprecedented damage in terms of life and property. According to the World Bank report in 2007, the burning of fossil fuels globally produces around 21.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, which is too enormous to surmount in a short period of time.
Carbon dioxide, the primary factor in global warming, directly relates to the size of mega disasters.
Accordingly, international society will confront the worst natural disasters and bear enormous damage without proper countermeasures.
To fight potential disasters resulting from climate change, our government has decided to invest 6 trillion won ($5.2 billion) from 2012 to 2016.
The National Emergency Management Agency will properly maximize the use of its budget in propelling the standardization of a disaster prevention system, the improvement of prediction capacity, the building of an integrated disaster management system, etc.
Nonetheless, those domestic efforts have to be based on international cooperation in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Otherwise, individual countries’ trials will hit a dead end. Almost all carbon dioxide pollution originates from the U.S., Japan, Europe and China, which is called the “world chimney.”
The United Nations prompted the adoption of a new environmental protocol which specified legal aspects with regards to the emission of carbon dioxide in Kyoto in 1997. In addition, member countries agreed to push the protocol in a draconian manner by 2005, but several countries, including the U.S., rejected drafting the system until 2020, when the system will have to be enacted without dissent.
The primary focuses of NEMA over the past several years were both international movements responding to the establishment of a climate change responsible division fully in charge of devising and implementing the counter-climate change effect.
NEMA has also actively participated in the suggestion and decision process of important items from the creation of the U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the primary pillar of the U.N. system in confronting global climate issues.
NEMA is a faithful companion of the United Nations Humanitarian Agency (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in practicing emergency relief by dispatching the Korea Disaster Relief Team in cooperation with international society.
The aim of KDRT’s involvement is to conduct rescue operations at the initial stage of a disaster and to give technical assistance to the affected country during the recovery phase.
Recently KDRT was honored with heavy team certification, the highest out of three categories after a strict examination by the United Nations. So far only 17 countries have achieved this designation.
For 2012, NEMA will domestically pursue every effort to predict potential disasters caused by climate change through the considerable improvement of the disaster management system, and for decreasing disaster damage through its one-step-ahead response.
NEMA will internationally fight an extensive war against climate change in cooperation with the U.N. and international society.
For 2012, NEMA will be reborn as a safety keeper not only for Korea but also for the world.
Li Ki-hwan
By Li Ki-hwan
Administrator, National Emergency Management Agency