A majority of South Koreans are willing to cut their annual consumption by 15% or more to combat global warming. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – A majority of South Koreans are willing to cut their annual consumption by 15% or more to combat global warming, according to a recent international survey that highlights the country’s growing environmental consciousness.
The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs released a report comparing climate change perceptions across 10 countries, including South Korea, Norway, Germany, Denmark, the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, and Finland.
The study, which surveyed 21,862 people, including 2,004 South Koreans, revealed a notable enthusiasm among Koreans for lifestyle changes to address climate concerns.
The findings show that 34.9% of South Korean respondents said they could reduce their annual consumption by 18% to help mitigate global warming.
This figure places South Korea third, behind Italy (40.6%) and the United Kingdom (40.3%), in terms of willingness to make significant consumption cuts.
Moreover, 54.9% of South Korean participants indicated they could reduce their yearly consumption by 15% or more, second only to Italy’s 57.8%.
Interestingly, while younger generations in other countries showed a greater inclination to reduce consumption, the trend was reversed in South Korea.
Among South Koreans aged 55 and older, 60.9% said they could cut consumption by 15% or more, compared to 47.52% of those aged 18 to 34.
However, the study also revealed that young South Koreans are more concerned about the personal sacrifices they might face due to carbon reduction policies.
On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of concern, South Koreans aged 18-34 scored 3.15, higher than both the 35 to 54 age group (3.05) and those 55 and older (3).
Ko Hyejin, the associate researcher who conducted the study, noted, “Unlike citizens of other countries, where age differences were less pronounced, young Koreans showed a statistically significant higher level of agreement with the potential impacts of carbon reduction policies compared to older generations.”
Go added, “Uniquely in Korea, older generations also feel a strong sense of responsibility regarding climate change and are actively embracing efforts for change. This recognition of intergenerational justice in climate issues among Koreans provides a positive foundation for seeking solutions to the climate crisis.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
