Korea tests ‘electric road’ that powers public buses

GUMI, North Gyeongsang Province (AFP) ― A South Korean city has begun testing an “electrified road” that allows electric public buses to recharge their batteries from buried cables as they travel. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which developed the system, said Thursday it would be tested over the next four months on a 24-kilometer route in the southern city of Gumi.Pick-up equipment underneath the bus, or online electric vehicle, sucks up power through non-contact magnet

Aug. 8, 2013

Algal blooms befoul rivers

In what has become an annual summer scourge in South Korea, millions of dead fish have been washed ashore and rivers have been fouled with bright green beds of algae for the past two weeks.Residents of South Gyeongsang Province are voicing concerns over a record level of green tides in Nakdonggang River, the source of drinking water to some 3 million people in Daegu and in adjacent areas. According to the Ministry of Environment, the population of microorganisms sharply increased to dangerous le

Aug. 4, 2013

Tension rises over Miryang transmission line

MIRYANG, South Gyeongsang Province ― Tensions are rising between electricity authorities and residents in Miryang over a plan to build a high-voltage transmission line in the region. The Korea Electric Power Corporation plans to build a 765-kilovolt transmission line from Ulsan’s Shin-Kori nuclear power plant to the plant’s substation in Changnyeong. But the 8-year-old project is on hold due to residents’ opposition, with 52 out of 161 towers yet to be erected. “When you poke a bee hive, bees fl

Aug. 1, 2013

As solar panels pile up, China takes axe to polysilicon firms

HONG KONG (Reuters) ― Three quarters of China’s solar-grade polysilicon producers face closure as Beijing looks to overhaul a bloated and inefficient industry, resulting in fewer but better companies to compete against Germany’s Wacker Chemie AG and South Korea’s OCI Co Ltd.The polysilicon sector, which has around 40 companies employing 30,000 people and has received investment of 100 billion yuan ($16 billion), suffers from low quality and chronic over-capacity as local governments poured in mo

Aug. 1, 2013

Seoul faces increasing risk of landslides

In July 2011, Seoul was hit by the heaviest rain in a century. Subway stations were closed, tree trunks were ripped from their roots and roads became rivers. The worst came in the early morning of July 27, when a huge landslide swept through one of Seoul’s most affluent areas.The wall of mud and water from Mount Umyeonsan in southern Seoul took the lives of 16 people. Hundreds of residents had to rush outside, puzzled. “‘I’ll be right back’ was the last words I heard from him,” Kim Il-young, 56,

July 18, 2013

Effort to revive Galapagos tortoises once thought extinct

PUERTO AYORA, Ecuador (AFP) ― Scientists will try to revive two species of giant Galapagos tortoises thought to have been extinct by breeding genetic relatives in captivity, experts leading the effort said.The Galapagos Islands, located 1,000 kilometers off Ecuador’s Pacific coast, are famed for the large number of species that have developed there in isolation.New research techniques have revealed that at Wolf volcano on Isabela Island, 17 hybrid giant tortoises have been found with genes from

June 20, 2013

Climate talk shifts from curbing CO2 to adapting

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Efforts to curb global warming have quietly shifted as greenhouse gases inexorably rise.The conversation is no longer solely about how to save the planet by cutting carbon emissions. It’s becoming more about how to save ourselves from the warming planet’s wild weather.It was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent announcement of an ambitious plan to stave off New York City’s rising seas with flood gates, levees and more that brought this transition into full focus.After years of losi

June 20, 2013

GGGI chief seeks greater private-sector role

The Global Green Growth Institute will focus on reinforcing collaborations between governments and the private sector to help developing countries to pursue environment-friendly growth, its new chief Howard Bamsey told The Korea Herald.The “think and act” tank was set up by the Korean government in 2010 to bridge the rich and poor countries and share technologies and experiences for sustainable development across the world. The Seoul-based institute was upgraded into an official international or

June 13, 2013

U.S.-China climate deal was long in the works

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Disparate interests ranging from environmental activists to businesses and industry are lining up to support a first-of-its-kind deal between the U.S. and China to phase out a chemical blamed for climate change.Although it took most proponents by surprise, the deal was in the bag before President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the California desert retreat where they announced it over the weekend. And for China, it came only after a change in financial

June 13, 2013

Seoul to showcase green growth at ENVEX 2013

Korea has invited companies from around the globe focused on eco-friendly technologies to the 35th International Exhibition on Environmental Technology and Green Energy in Seoul this week, the Ministry of Environment said. Some 310 companies from 23 countries are expected to showcase about 2,000 of the latest technologies and products at Korea’s biggest exhibition on environment, at COEX from June 11-14. Their ideas will include household products ranging from a food waste treatment system to ai

June 9, 2013

U.S. conservationists posts ad at President Park

A group of conservationists in the U.S. posted an ad containing messages toward South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye on the New York Times on Tuesday.The ad was produced by Protect the Palisades, which opposes Korean tech firm LG Electronics’ plan to build a 44-meter-high corporate headquarters in Palisades, New Jersey, that boasts beautiful vistas.Started by the words “President Park Geun-hye: An American landmark is at risk,” the message urges LG Electronics to change its original plan and bu

May 9, 2013

Korea, China, Japan pledge joint action to tackle pollution

Korea, China and Japan agreed Monday to launch a regular tripartite policy dialogue to tackle air pollution including harmful particulate matters smaller than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers.At the close of the two-day ministerial meeting in Kitakyushu, Japan, they adopted a joint communiqu pledging to build a network for sharing information on environmental policies and prepare a sustainable governance system for dust and sandstorm.They also called for an early launch of the green climate fu

May 6, 2013

Korea gears up for carbon market scheme

A global carbon emissions watchdog called for the Korean government to go ahead with its plan to introduce a cap and trade system in 2015, despite opposition from businesses and a deepening gloom over the market. Yang Choon-seung, director of Korea Sustainability Investing Forum(KoSIF), said the government should step up proactive efforts for the development of the burgeoning market in which permits to emit carbon are given to firms and can be traded among them. “If we don’t even try to implemen

May 2, 2013