Assessing the environmental impact of Greenhouse Gases in a Low-Carbon Green City in South Korea

The purpose of this study is to conduct an environmental impact assessment on Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the Gangneung Low-Carbon Green City pilot project and to provide assistance in creating an urban environmental plan designed to expand the Low-Carbon Green City and reduce GHGs. The emission of GHGs in the area of the case study is 371,270 tons, and the GHGs can be abated by 581,187 tons (or 134.88%) suggesting that, in addition to 100% of the GHGs emitted, an additional 150,298 tons can also be reduced. The result of analyzing the amount of 4 each sectorial GHG emissions shows that 91% of total amount of GHG emission in the case area is by both of the sectors — “Energy” and “Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use (AFOLU)” out of 4 sectors. This result indicates that the GHGs reduction plan should be focused on these two sectors. The assessment method of this study can contribute to urban environmental planning to cope with climate change because it can provide a quantitative analysis of the effects that contribute to the Greenhouse Gases Reduction Target in development project areas.