AGP Executive Report

Cleaner Manufacturing: Seoul National University researchers raised the yield of a chemical reaction from about 16% to 97% by controlling acidity near electrodes, using oxygen and electricity instead of added peroxide oxidants. Industrial Decarbonization: South Korea’s Anytech and India’s Hughes & Hughes launched a venture to turn CO₂ and plant waste into saleable products, starting with cement and steel. Renewable Energy: Korea plans to set renewable-energy targets for public agencies as well as utilities, expanding the public sector’s role in the transition. Climate and Forests: Climate change is bringing earlier springs and later autumn foliage in Korea, shifting the seasonal rhythms of its forests. Urban Biodiversity: Seoul’s Hangang River recorded 2,062 species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007; the city links the increase to restored riverbanks and expanded wildlife habitats.

Clean Transport: Hyundai says hydrogen vehicle sales in South Korea have topped 50,000, reaching 50,262 through September as the market expands from passenger cars to buses and trucks. Renewable Energy: Korea plans to set renewable-energy targets for public agencies, extending requirements beyond utilities. Climate and Forests: Climate change is shifting seasonal patterns, with spring arriving earlier and autumn foliage lasting later. Urban Nature: Seoul’s Hangang River recorded 2,062 species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007, alongside riverbank restoration and expanded wildlife habitats. Wildlife Rescue: A dusky shark repeatedly returned to a South Korean canal after rescue attempts before being guided back to sea.

Renewable Energy: South Korea plans to set renewable-energy targets for public agencies from next year, extending obligations beyond power generators as it works toward 100 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. Agencies may need to install projects or make unused land available. Wildlife: Firefighters in Incheon captured a blood python at a mountain trailhead. Officials suspect it escaped captivity or was released, and are investigating how it got there. Climate and Forests: Climate change is shifting South Korea’s seasons, bringing earlier springs and later autumn foliage. Forecasters are also warning the country to prepare for winter weather swings linked to a strong El Niño.

Seoul’s River Revival: The Hangang River recorded 2,062 species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007, as the city restored riverbanks and expanded wildlife habitats. Climate Pressure: Spring is arriving earlier and autumn foliage later in South Korea as climate change reshapes forests; forecasters are also warning of a powerful El Niño this winter and potential weather swings. Climate Policy: South Korea’s US$744 billion climate plan faces its first financial test, while Seoul and the EU held high-level talks on the green transition. The UN is urging deeper emissions cuts to limit global warming. Wildlife Rescue: After repeated attempts, rescuers guided a shark nicknamed Bukangi out of a South Korean canal and back to sea.

Extreme Weather: South Korea is bracing for a potentially strong El Niño this winter, with warnings of sharp weather swings. Climate change is also shifting the seasons: spring is arriving earlier, while autumn foliage comes later. Clean Energy: Seoul plans to test next-generation solar panels in parking lots, while South Korea’s $744 billion climate plan faces its first major financial test. Urban Nature: The Hangang River recorded 2,062 species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007, as restoration work expanded riverbank habitats. Green Transition: South Korea and the EU held a forum on cooperation toward a greener economy.

Climate and Forests: South Korea’s autumn foliage is arriving later as warmer temperatures shift the seasons. Research found leaf-out advanced by 13 days and autumn color was delayed by 3.7 days over a decade; the Korea Forest Service expects peak foliage around Oct. 31 this year and has highlighted arboretums offering seasonal walks and festivals. Urban Nature: Seoul’s Hangang River recorded 2,062 species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007, alongside riverbank restoration and expanded wildlife habitat. Wildlife Rescue: A dusky shark repeatedly returned to a city canal after being guided toward the sea, prompting fresh rescue efforts. Clean Energy: Seoul plans to test next-generation solar panels in parking lots. Greener Transport: Hyundai has delivered 11 electric buses for public transport in Bali, extending South Korean clean-mobility technology overseas.

Climate Risks: A UN agency warns a powerful El Niño could bring sharp weather swings this winter; recent record autumn rain flooded Seoul, adding to concerns about extreme downpours. Urban Nature: Seoul’s Hangang River recorded 2,062 species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007, as riverbank restoration and habitat expansion helped wildlife return. Wildlife Rescue: Busan’s dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, returned to the sea after repeated attempts to guide it out of a canal. Clean Energy: South Korea is opening drinking-water reservoirs to floating solar projects.

Urban Biodiversity: Seoul says the Hangang River had 2,062 recorded species in 2022, up from 1,608 in 2007. The city links the increase to restoring 46.9 kilometres of riverbanks and improving wildlife habitats. Wildlife Rescue: A dusky shark nicknamed Bukangi has repeatedly returned to a Busan canal after rescue attempts, drawing public attention to the challenge of guiding it safely back to sea. Climate Risks: A study found East Asia’s summer rain front shifted north by about 213 kilometres in late September over recent decades, raising concerns about the region’s exposure to both heat and downpours. Clean Energy: South Korea is opening drinking-water reservoirs to floating solar, but 65% of power-grid projects have missed completion targets — a warning that new renewable capacity depends on timely grid upgrades.

Marine Wildlife: Busan’s month-long effort to free Bukangi, a 3-meter dusky shark trapped in a canal, succeeded on the third attempt, sending the viral shark back toward open water. Scientists have not explained why it entered the canal; some activists have linked the incident to warming seas. Clean Energy: Seoul plans to test next-generation solar panels in parking lots, adding to South Korea’s push to expand solar power. Flood Preparedness: A new full-scale flood lab will let researchers test fixes for urban inundation, as Seoul faces growing concern over extreme downpours. Waste and Climate Policy: Seoul’s trash is being hauled about 130 kilometers as local governments resist taking more waste, while South Korea’s large climate spending plan faces an early test in funding and implementation.

Wildlife: Bukangi, the dusky shark trapped in a Busan canal for weeks, was guided back to sea after repeated rescue attempts. Environmental groups linked its appearance to warming seas. Clean Energy: A first shipment of bio-methanol made with wind power and biomass arrived in Busan from China, where the fuel was used to refuel ships. South Korea and the EU also held a high-level forum on green transition cooperation. Urban Climate: South Korea is building a full-scale flood lab to test ways to reduce urban inundation, while Seoul plans to trial next-generation solar panels in parking lots. These initiatives come as the country’s major climate spending plan faces an early financial test and many power-grid projects fall behind schedule.

Wildlife and Warming: Busan officials guided the stranded shark Bukangi out of a canal and toward the sea. Experts say warming waters may be one factor behind more large-shark sightings along Korea’s east coast. Clean Energy: Seoul plans to test next-generation solar panels in parking lots, while Shinhan Bank is targeting 50% renewable power for a Namyangju AI data center. Flood Resilience: Korea is building a full-scale flood lab to test fixes for urban inundation. Climate Accountability: South Korea’s $744 billion climate plan faces its first financial test; meanwhile, the government collects billions of won in cigarette-waste fees but reportedly cannot track where the money goes. Green Transition: Korea and the EU held a high-level forum on cooperation in the green transition.

Urban Solar: Seoul will test perovskite tandem panels on parking canopies and aging solar sites, checking whether the higher-output technology can work reliably in space-constrained parts of the city. Renewable Energy: South Korea is opening drinking-water reservoirs to floating solar, but a separate analysis warns that expansion needs a grid plan. Greener Materials: Hyosung TNC has started producing sugarcane-based bio-BDO in Vietnam, replacing fossil feedstocks used to make materials for spandex. Nature in Seoul: Seongbuk District is turning gardens into places for reading and rest, with residents helping maintain them. Waste and Climate Risks: Seoul’s garbage travels about 130 kilometers as local governments resist taking more waste, while a record autumn downpour flooded the capital and renewed concerns about heavier rains linked to El Niño. Pollution Oversight: A report says the government collects billions of won in cigarette-waste fees but cannot account for where the money goes.

Wildlife: An endangered dusky shark trapped in Busan’s North Port canal for more than a month may have only two weeks to live. A third rescue attempt is planned as the shark shows signs of injury and may not have eaten. Industrial emissions: Tongsuh Petrochemical’s Ulsan plant earned independent verification for its 2025 acrylonitrile carbon-footprint data. The company has used biomass-derived propylene since 2022 and plans further emissions cuts. Renewable energy: South Korea is opening drinking-water reservoirs to floating solar, including one serving 26 million people; grid planning remains a key challenge. Climate and waste: Record autumn rain flooded Seoul amid concerns about El Niño, while the capital’s rubbish is being hauled 130 kilometers as local governments push back. Pollution oversight: The government collects billions of won in cigarette-waste fees but reportedly cannot account for how the money is spent.

Extreme Rain: Record autumn downpours flooded Seoul, renewing concerns about heavy rainfall as El Niño conditions develop. Climate Research: UNIST researchers developed AI that combines satellite and weather data to map daily plant carbon uptake at 30-meter resolution, overcoming challenges from cloud cover and Korea’s patchwork of forests and farmland. Wildlife: Gyeonggi Province confirmed a new habitat of about 30,000 endangered white-clawed fiddler crabs on Daebudo Island’s tidal flats. In Incheon, officials released 350,000 native mussel juveniles off Daeijak Island to help restore coastal resources. DMZ Conservation: Ecological, forestry and historical surveys in the Demilitarized Zone have been stalled since May 2024, as the United Nations Command continues to deny civilian access over security concerns.

Extreme Rain: Record autumn downpours flooded Seoul as El Niño raises concerns about heavier rainfall. Drinking-Water Solar: A government plan to allow floating solar in protected water-source zones could reach Paldang, which supplies 26 million people. The plan promises local revenue, but long-term effects on water quality and ecosystems still need checking. Energy Storage: New guidelines aim to cut permitting times for outdoor battery-storage sites by up to three months and costs by as much as ₩70 million, after inconsistent local classifications slowed projects. Waste: Seoul’s rubbish is being hauled about 130 kilometres as municipalities push back against taking more, highlighting disputes over where the city’s waste burden should fall. Grid Bottlenecks: A report says 65% of Korea’s power-grid projects miss completion targets, a potential hurdle for renewable expansion.

Power Infrastructure: South Korea’s grid expansion is falling behind: 68 of 104 transmission and substation projects missed their deadlines or remain unfinished, with major lines taking more than a decade to build. Circular Economy: A Seoul forum on Oct. 19–20 is bringing manufacturers together to explore recycling, remanufacturing and circular supply chains as resource security becomes a concern. Water Cooperation: South Korea is sending officials and water companies to Kazakhstan to explore smart water management and wastewater projects. Animal Welfare: A rescue of more than 70 dogs from a Gangjin meat farm marked Humane World for Animals’ final large-scale rescue in Korea; the group says more than 1,200 dog farms have closed since the 2024 ban began to be enforced. Nature: Goyang has been named South Korea’s candidate for Ramsar Wetland City status, while Seoul’s Silver Grass Festival continues at Haneul Park, a former landfill. Cleaner Industry: POSCO is advancing hydrogen steelmaking under the government’s K-GX plan.