Adjust environmental regulation to cope with COVID-19
- Author Kang, Sungwon
- Researchers
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Date
2020-12-31
Ⅰ. Background and Aims of Research
oTo accommodate short-term and long-term shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to modify environmental regulations.
ㅇ We need to inspect if we need to modify environmental regulation to absorb short-term shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and to accommodate long-term shocks of the COVID 19 pandemic.
- Short-term shocks will disappear after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic; the amount and composition of pollutant emission change because most of human activities reduces except for medical activities.
-Long-term shocks will remain after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic; depending on the size and duration of shocks, some shocks could cause irreversible changes in the circumstances regarding environmental regulation.
ㅇ In the short run, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the emission of pollutants related to preventive measures and the cost of complying with the regulations on face-to-face contacts. The increase in compliance cost might have strengthened the pressure for deregulation.
- Deregulation pressure: While environmental pollution decreases naturally, the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic strengthens deregulation arguments.
ㅇ In the long run, the COVID-19 pandemic could accelerate digitization and increase the share of small emitters in pollutant emission.
- To avoid contact, digital technology is widely applied in production- transportation-working-consumption.
- COVID-19 made digitized ‘untact’ behaviors a viable option.
ㅇ We need to revise the current environmental regulation to deal with the short-term and long-term s
oTo accommodate short-term and long-term shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to modify environmental regulations.
ㅇ We need to inspect if we need to modify environmental regulation to absorb short-term shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and to accommodate long-term shocks of the COVID 19 pandemic.
- Short-term shocks will disappear after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic; the amount and composition of pollutant emission change because most of human activities reduces except for medical activities.
-Long-term shocks will remain after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic; depending on the size and duration of shocks, some shocks could cause irreversible changes in the circumstances regarding environmental regulation.
ㅇ In the short run, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the emission of pollutants related to preventive measures and the cost of complying with the regulations on face-to-face contacts. The increase in compliance cost might have strengthened the pressure for deregulation.
- Deregulation pressure: While environmental pollution decreases naturally, the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic strengthens deregulation arguments.
ㅇ In the long run, the COVID-19 pandemic could accelerate digitization and increase the share of small emitters in pollutant emission.
- To avoid contact, digital technology is widely applied in production- transportation-working-consumption.
- COVID-19 made digitized ‘untact’ behaviors a viable option.
ㅇ We need to revise the current environmental regulation to deal with the short-term and long-term s