1. Current Status of Carbon-Neutral Communities in Korea
The Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Coping With Climate Crisis proposes a process for “spreading participatory carbon-neutral communities nationwide,” but changes in support policies and budgets are raising difficulties for continued operation. Due to the reduction of convergence support projects by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, energy-independent communities in various local governments, including Busan, are also shrinking in size. The Ministry of Environment also sought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging community organization and living practices through the Carbon Neutral-Living Practice Leading community, but the budget for 2024 was entirely cut due to insufficient carbon reduction results. Accordingly, interviews with key stakeholders (government, businesses, and local activists) revealed a lack of consistency in the legal framework (regulations, budget support, and incentives) due to weak linkages within the legal system (see Table 1).
2. Comparison of Operational System and Processes between Carbon-Neutral Communities in Korea and Abroad
We selected Germany as a European country that is leading the way in operating carbon-neutral communities and Japan as an Asian country, to compare the processes of operating carbon-neutral landfills in Korea. In overseas guidelines for carbon- neutral communities, companies are involved from the planning stage, become key ac ...