기후변화 공동대응 및 탄소중립을 위한 남북 산림환경협력 방안과 법적 과제

The impact of climate change on North Korea is highly vulnerable to being more affected by climate change than other countries. It needs joint inter-Korean forest environment cooperation to reduce climate risks and respond to natural disasters and carbon neutrality on the Korean Peninsula. Thus, this study reviewed the cooperative measures under the international community’s sanctions against North Korea. This study suggested stepwise approaches, including mid-to-long-term actions for potential inter-Korean forest environment cooperation and legal issues under the current sanctions against North Korea. First, under the current sanctions against North Korea, inter-Korean forest environment cooperation needs to promote forest technology education capacity-building projects such as forest planting and restoration, climate change and disaster risk reduction, which are in demand for technology in North Korea. It is necessary to consider cooperation with international organizations such as UNESCAP, IUCN, and international NGOs, which until recently carried out knowledge-sharing and SDGs-related capacity-building projects for North Korean experts. Considering the COVID-19 situation, hybrid knowledge exchanges with international organizations and NGOs should be carried out in parallel. Second, the mid-to-long-term plan should be prepared for easing and lifting sanctions against North Korea. Forest carbon credits can be issued to achieve the national greenhouse gas reduction target on the Korean Peninsula. As concrete measures, A/R CDM and REDD+ projects should be reviewed, and special agreements for carbon trading between the two Koreas should be pursued. The enactment of a special Act on inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation and development cooperation, including forest environment, needs to be promoted positively. In addition, consultations and collaboration should be conducted to establish North Korea’s legal and institutional basis. It is for the comprehensive and systematic expansion and promotion of forest carbon credits in response to climate change.