탄소중립 이행과 정의로운 전환을 위한 법적 과제

The Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Response to the Climate Crisis (Carbon Neutrality Framework Act) enacted on September 24, 2021 reflects the carbon neutral policies and legislative trends of major countries, including the recommendations of the IPCC. The Act declared the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition to the policies and plans related to climate change response and adaptation, energy policy, and greenhouse gas reduction in the existing Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth, this Act is characterized by the introduction of new content on just transition. If the abolition of coal-fired power generation or the reduction of nuclear power generation, which are presented as representative examples of energy conversion, is gradually implemented over a long period of time, there will be no great difficulty. In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, however, there is no choice but to reorganize the industrial system at a considerable rate. In order to rapidly implement carbon neutrality within the next 10 to 30 years, countermeasures must be prepared to reduce the resulting impact on industries, jobs, and the local economy. Just Transition is a response to the rapid energy transition. In other words, it means to socially share the burden on the region and industry in the process of implementing the carbon neutrality goal, and to reorganize the industrial system while minimizing direct and indirect damage to related stakeholders. The policy direction linking carbon neutrality and just transition is based on regional and industrial supplementary measures in the US 'Green New Deal Resolution', Korea's 'Energy Transition Roadmap' or '3rd Green Growth Plan'. Carbon Neutrality is a goal that we must achieve to prepare for the climate crisis. However, policies related to carbon neutrality will have a negative impact on industries that consume a lot of fossil fuels, large-scale carbon emission industries, and energy-intensive industries. The “Carbon Neutrality Framework Act” suggests policies for a just transition, such as the establishment of a social safety net, designation of a special district for just transition, support for business conversion, minimization of risk of asset loss, support for guaranteeing public participation, vitalization of cooperatives, and establishment of a just support center. These articles are declarative and abstract in their content, so they are insufficient to implement specific policies for a just transition. Energy transition and just transition are to expand the use of renewable energy that does not cause a climate crisis, to enjoy basic energy services for all members of society, to share the burden generated in the transition process socially, and to minimize damage to the vulnerable. In order to successfully achieve a just transition, it is necessary to make an effort to solve the problems of the local economy that is dependent on fossil fuels and coal-fired and nuclear power generation so that a soft landing can be achieved as a carbon-neutral society. In addition, it is necessary to prepare for employment conversion through re-education and retraining by defining green industries and green jobs in a more specific scope.