신기후체제에 대응한 저탄소농업 활성화 방안

Abstract

세계는 기후변화가 초래할 환경변화에 대응하기 위해 글로벌 어젠다로 온실가스 감축을 선정하였고, 국제협약을 통해 온실가스 의무감축을 현실화하고 있다. 최근 파리 기후변화협약이 체결되면서 우리나라 농업부문도 온실가스 감축에 대한 부담이 이전보다 커지고 있다. 농업부문이 온실가스 감축에 효과적으로 대응하기 위해서는 체계적이고 단계적인 저탄소농업 활성화 방안을 수립하여 추진할 필요가 있다. 저탄소농업 활성화 방안은 많은 시간 및 예산 투입이 수반되어야 하므로 사전적으로 저탄소농업 기술에 대한 경제성 및 기술 적용의 애로사항을 분석하고, 그에 따라 효율적인 방안이 도출되도록 해야 한다.

이 보고서는 ‘신기후체제에 대응한 저탄소농업 활성화 방안’에 관한 연구원 수시과제의 최종 결과물이다. 여기서는 기후변화협약과 저탄소농업 관련 정책 추진현황 분석, 농가의 저탄소농업 기술 적용실태 분석, 한계감축비용 분석, 저탄소인증 농산물에 대한 소비자 인식 조사분석 등을 실시하고 분석결과를 바탕으로 저탄소농업 활성화를 위한 추진과제를 제시하였다.

Background The world selected reduction of greenhouse gases as a global agenda to adapt to environmental changes caused by climate change, and implements compulsory reduction of greenhouse gases through international conventions. The agricultural sector of Korea should establish and promote policies for expanding low-carbon emission agriculture based on evaluation of economic effects of low-carbon emission agriculture to effectively adapt to reducing greenhouse gases. Prior studies related to low-carbon emission agriculture focus mainly on calculating the volume of emitted greenhouse gases and analyzing potential reduction thereof. It is hard to find prior studies suggesting an analysis of economic effects and effective reduction strategies thereof. This study has been promoted to design a strategy for vitalizing low-carbon emission agriculture on a systematic basis to successfully reduce greenhouse gases in the agriculture sector after the Climate Change Conference in Paris.

Method of Research The world selected reduction of greenhouse gases as a global agenda to adapt to environmental changes caused by climate change, and implements compulsory reduction of greenhouse gases through international conventions. The agricultural sector of Korea should establish and promote policies for expanding low-carbon emission agriculture based on evaluation of economic effects of low-carbon emission agriculture to effectively adapt to reducing greenhouse gases. Prior studies related to low-carbon emission agriculture focus mainly on calculating the volume of emitted greenhouse gases and analyzing potential reduction thereof. It is hard to find prior studies suggesting an analysis of economic effects and effective reduction strategies thereof. This study has been promoted to design a strategy for vitalizing low-carbon emission agriculture on a systematic basis to successfully reduce greenhouse gases in the agriculture sector after the Climate Change Conference in Paris. Results and Implications The result of the survey by questionnaire to examine recognition of and response to low-carbon emission agriculture reveals difficulties in applying low-carbon emission agriculture: ‘no price difference of low-carbon emission agricultural products’ (32.3%), ‘reduced volume per unit area after applying low-carbon emission agriculture’ (24.8%), and ‘increased labor input including complicated documentation procedures’ (15.9%). The result of estimated marginal abatement cost of the technology for reducing greenhouse gases in the agricultural sector reveals no-tillage is the most cost-effective technology, followed by multiple insulation curtains, geothermal heat pumps, water-curtain system, cultivation with green manure, optimum application of fertilizers, and intermittent irrigation. The result of the consumer survey reveals many consumers value the necessity for low-carbon emission certification, and highly trust the certification. However, just a half of the consumers who have bought low-carbon emission products answered they know details of low-carbon emission certification, suggesting the necessity for public relations in the future. More than 80% of people who have or have not bought agricultural products certified as low-carbon emission products gave a positive answer to future purchase thereof. This implies it is necessary to diversify agricultural products certified as low-carbon emission products, find ideal markets to enable consumers to easily access thereto, and lower the price premium approximately 25% lower than the agricultural products certified as GAP and pesticide free to promote future purchase. It is needed to vitalize low-carbon emission agriculture to accomplish the target of reducing greenhouse gases under the new climate regime. To this end, it is necessary to promote key projects including further expanding major low-carbon emission agriculture technology, encouraging consumers to buy low-carbon emission agricultural products, promoting greenhouse gas reduction projects by using the Emission Trading Market, and establishing a strategy for introducing the Environmental Cross Compliance Scheme of the EU.

Researchers: Jeong Hakkyun, Kim Yeanjung, Lee Hyejin Research period: 2015. 12. ~ 2016. 5. E-mail address: hak8247@krei.re.kr