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브레이크뉴스 문홍철 기자= 국내 주요 대기업들의 온실가스 배출량이 최근 5년간 꾸준히 감소하고 있다. 2019년 이후 매년 배출량이 줄어 2024년 기준 4억1951만톤으로 집계돼 5년 만에 14.7% 줄어든 것.
하지만, 2018년(국가 전체 7억8390만톤) 대비 2030년까지 40% 감축을 내세운 정부 목표를 고려하면 갈 길이 한참 먼 상황이다. 현재까지 감축률은 약 11.8%로, 지금 속도대로라면 2030년에도 20% 안팎에 머물러 목표치의 절반 수준에 불과할 전망이다.
14일 리더스인덱스에 따르면 매출 상위 500대 기업 중 2019년부터 2024년까지 온실가스 배출량을 매년 공시해 6개년 추이 비교가 가능한 201개사를 조사한 결과, 2024년 이들 기업의 총 배출량은 4억1951만톤이었다. 이는 2019년(4억9153만톤) 대비 14.7% 줄어든 수치다.
같은 기간 국가 전체 온실가스 배출량은 7억5940만톤에서 6억9158만톤으로 감소했으며, 이에 따라 201개 기업이 차지하는 비중은 64.7%에서 60.6%로 4.1%p 낮아졌다.(2019~2022년은 확정 배출량, 2023·2024년은 잠정치 반영)
대기업들의 배출량을 시기별로 나눠보면 문재인 정부 시절(2019~2021년) 3년간 2727만톤 줄어 5.6% 감소했다. 윤석열 정부 3년(2022~2024년)에도 감소세가 이어져 2349만톤(5.3%) 줄었으나, 감소폭은 다소 축소됐다.
전통적으로 배출 비중이 큰 ‘굴뚝산업’에서 감축이 두드러진 반면, 사업 확장 기업과 에너지 사용이 늘어난 신산업에서는 오히려 배출량이 늘었다.
이재명 정부가 2035년까지 국가 온실가스 감축목표(NDC)를 40% 중후반에서 67%까지 염두에 두고 네 가지 안을 검토 중인 가운데, 이번 조사 결과는 대기업들의 성과와 과제를 동시에 확인시키고 있다.
연도별로는 △2019년 4억9153만톤 △2020년 4억5227만톤 △2021년 4억6426만톤 △2022년 4억4300만톤 △2023년 4억2667만톤 △2024년 4억1951만톤으로 나타났다. 2024년 한 해만 놓고 보면 전년보다 1.7%(712만톤) 감소했다.
2019년과 비교해 2024년에 배출량이 줄어든 기업은 106곳, 늘어난 기업은 95곳이었다. 증감폭은 대체로 업황에 따라 크게 갈렸다.
가장 감소율이 큰 기업은 SKC였다. 2019년 17만3964톤에서 지난해 1437톤으로 줄어 –99.2%라는 극적인 감축률을 보였다. 온실가스 배출량의 대부분을 차지했던 온산공장을 2022년 매각한 영향이다.
이어 △DL이앤씨 –77.6%(24만톤→5만톤) △한화 –64.0%(18만톤→6만톤) △LG전자 –62.4%(68만톤→26만톤) △아모레퍼시픽 –61.3%(5만톤→2만톤) △SK케미칼 –54.8%(49만톤→22만톤) △현대위아 –51.2%(20만톤→10만톤) 순이었다.
감소량으로 보면 발전 5사(남동·동서·남부·서부·중부발전)를 비롯해 포스코, LG디스플레이, 현대제철, OCI, 롯데케미칼 등이 크게 줄었다.
민간기업 중에선 포스코가 8050만톤에서 7110만톤으로 940만톤(-11.7%)을 감축해 절대 감소량이 가장 컸다. 다음으로 △LG디스플레이 –221만톤(589만톤→367만톤, -37.6%) △현대제철 –133만톤(3015만톤→2882만톤, -4.4%) △OCI –95만톤(214만톤→119만톤, -44.4%) △롯데케미칼 –90만톤(680만→590만톤, -13.2%) 순이었다.
반면, 배출이 급증한 기업들도 있다. 일례로 엘앤에프는 3만톤에서 14만톤으로 늘어 419% 급증했다. 한화에어로스페이스도 방산 합병 영향으로 3만톤에서 11만톤으로 300% 넘게 뛰었다.
이어 △에코프로비엠 221%(2만톤→7만톤) △롯데지주 215%(296톤→930톤) △일진글로벌 196%(4만톤→12만톤) △제이셋스태츠칩팩코리아 190.0% (3만톤→10만톤) △HD현대케미칼 188.3%(94만톤→272만톤) 등도 세자릿수의 높은 증가율을 나타냈다.
업종별로는 공기업 부문에서 감소폭이 두드러졌다. 공기업 전체 배출량이 2019년 2억1161만톤에서 2024년 1억5302만톤으로 27.7% 줄었다.
특히, △한국남동발전(5340만톤→3071만톤, –42.5%) △한국남부발전(3666만톤→2435만톤, –33.6%) △한국동서발전(3902만톤→2598만톤, –33.4%) △한국서부발전(3467만톤→2696만톤, –22.2%) 등 발전사의 감축 효과가 컸다. 이와 달리 공기업 중 한국토지주택공사(20만톤→25만톤, 24.9%), 한국수력원자력(311만톤→368만톤, 18.3%) 등은 오히려 늘었다.
가장 높은 증가율을 보인 업종은 보험이었다. 2019년 4만톤에서 2024년 7만톤으로 82.2% 늘었다. 삼성생명(1만8740톤→3만7609톤, 100.7%)이 대표적이다.
다음으로 △제약 73.7%(23만톤→41만톤) △증권 55.6%(6800톤→1만톤) △서비스 43.5%(35만톤→50만톤) △조선·기계·설비 22.7%(223만톤→273만톤) △통신 15.0%(324만톤→373만톤) △운송 9.6%(379만톤→415만톤) △2차전지 3.5%(313만톤→324만톤) △에너지 2.2%(1375만톤→1405만톤) △식음료 1.6%(264만톤→268만톤) 등도 증가세를 보였다.
반면, △생활용품 14.6%(140만톤→120만톤) △철강 10.1%(1173만톤→1054만톤) △은행 8.8%(49만톤→45만톤) △지주 7.3%(824만톤→763만톤) △건설·건자재 7.1%(1755만톤→1631만톤) △자동차·부품 5.5%(461만톤→436만톤) △석유화학 1.6%(7036만톤→6921만톤) △IT전기전자 0.8%(2882만톤→2858만톤) 등은 감소했다.
break9874@naver.com
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. 구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>
Large corporations' greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 14.7% over the past five years, falling far short of their 2030 reduction target.
Greenhouse gas emissions from major domestic corporations have been steadily decreasing over the past five years. Since 2019, emissions have decreased annually, reaching 419.51 million tons by 2024, a 14.7% decrease in just five years.
However, considering the government's goal of a 40% reduction by 2030 compared to 2018 (783.9 million tons nationwide), there is still a long way to go. The current reduction rate is approximately 11.8%, and at the current pace, it is projected to remain at around 20% by 2030, barely half the target.
According to Leaders Index on the 14th, a survey of 201 of the top 500 companies by revenue that disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions annually from 2019 to 2024, allowing for a six-year comparison, revealed that these companies' combined emissions in 2024 were 419.51 million tons. This represents a 14.7% decrease compared to 2019 (491.53 million tons).
Over the same period, national greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 759.4 million tons to 691.58 million tons. Consequently, the share of 201 companies decreased by 4.1 percentage points, from 64.7% to 60.6%. (Confirmed emissions for 2019-2022, provisional figures for 2023 and 2024.)
Breaking down emissions from large corporations by period, the decline was 5.6%, or 27.27 million tons, during the three years of the Moon Jae-in administration (2019-2021). The decline continued during the three years of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration (2022-2024), with a decrease of 23.49 million tons (5.3%), but the rate of decline was somewhat reduced.
While reductions were particularly pronounced in traditionally high-emission "smokestack industries," emissions actually increased in expanding businesses and new industries with increased energy use.
With the Lee Jae-myung administration considering four options to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the mid-40% to 67% by 2035, this survey results highlight both the achievements and challenges faced by large corporations.
By year, emissions were 491.53 million tons in 2019, 452.27 million tons in 2020, 464.26 million tons in 2021, 443 million tons in 2022, 426.67 million tons in 2023, and 419.51 million tons in 2024. Looking at 2024 alone, emissions decreased by 1.7% (7.12 million tons) compared to the previous year.
Compared to 2019, 106 companies saw a decrease in emissions in 2024, while 95 saw an increase. The extent of the increase or decrease varied significantly depending on industry conditions.
SKC saw the largest decrease. Its emissions dropped from 173,964 tons in 2019 to 1,437 tons last year, a dramatic 99.2% reduction. This was due to the sale of its Onsan plant, which accounted for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, in 2022.
This was followed by DL E&C -77.6% (240,000 tons → 50,000 tons), Hanwha -64.0% (180,000 tons → 60,000 tons), LG Electronics -62.4% (680,000 tons → 260,000 tons), Amorepacific -61.3% (50,000 tons → 20,000 tons), SK Chemicals -54.8% (490,000 tons → 220,000 tons), and Hyundai Wia -51.2% (200,000 tons → 100,000 tons).
In terms of volume, the five power generation companies (Southeast, East-West, Southern, Western, and Central Power) as well as POSCO, LG Display, Hyundai Steel, OCI, and Lotte Chemical saw significant decreases.
Among private companies, POSCO saw the largest absolute decrease, reducing production by 9.4 million tons (-11.7%) from 80.5 million tons to 71.1 million tons. Next in line were LG Display – 2.21 million tons (5.89 million tons → 3.67 million tons, -37.6%), Hyundai Steel – 1.33 million tons (30.15 million tons → 28.82 million tons, -4.4%), OCI – 950,000 tons (2.14 million tons → 1.19 million tons, -44.4%), and Lotte Chemical – 900,000 tons (6.8 million → 5.9 million tons, -13.2%).
On the other hand, some companies saw a sharp increase in emissions. For example, L&F saw its emissions jump 419%, from 30,000 tons to 140,000 tons. Hanwha Aerospace also saw its emissions jump over 300%, from 30,000 tons to 110,000 tons, due to the defense industry merger.
Other companies that also showed high triple-digit growth rates included Ecopro BM (221%, 20,000 tons → 70,000 tons), Lotte Holdings (215%, 296 tons → 930 tons), Iljin Global (196%, 40,000 tons → 120,000 tons), JSET STATS Chip Pac Korea (190.0%, 30,000 tons → 100,000 tons), and HD Hyundai Chemical (188.3%, 940,000 tons → 2.72 million tons).
By industry, the decline was most pronounced in the public sector. Total emissions from public sector companies decreased by 27.7%, from 211.61 million tons in 2019 to 153.02 million tons in 2024.
In particular, power generation companies saw significant reductions, including Korea South-East Power (53.4 million tons → 30.71 million tons, -42.5%), Korea Southern Power (36.66 million tons → 24.35 million tons, -33.6%), Korea East-West Power (39.02 million tons → 25.98 million tons, -33.4%), and Korea Western Power (34.67 million tons → 26.96 million tons, -22.2%). In contrast, public corporations such as the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (200,000 tons → 250,000 tons, 24.9%) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (3.11 million tons → 3.68 million tons, 18.3%) experienced increases.
The industry with the highest growth rate was insurance, increasing 82.2% from 40,000 tons in 2019 to 70,000 tons in 2024. Samsung Life Insurance (18,740 tons → 37,609 tons, 100.7%) is a prime example.
Next, pharmaceuticals also showed increases: 73.7% (230,000 tons → 410,000 tons), securities 55.6% (6,800 tons → 10,000 tons), services 43.5% (350,000 tons → 500,000 tons), shipbuilding, machinery, and equipment 22.7% (2.23 million tons → 2.73 million tons), telecommunications 15.0% (3.24 million tons → 3.73 million tons), transportation 9.6% (3.79 million tons → 4.15 million tons), secondary batteries 3.5% (3.13 million tons → 3.24 million tons), energy 2.2% (13.75 million tons → 14.05 million tons), and food and beverage 1.6% (2.64 million tons → 2.68 million tons).
On the other hand, the following decreased: △ Household goods 14.6% (1.4 million tons → 1.2 million tons), △ Steel 10.1% (11.73 million tons → 10.54 million tons), △ Banks 8.8% (490,000 tons → 450,000 tons), △ Holding companies 7.3% (8.24 million tons → 7.63 million tons), △ Construction and building materials 7.1% (17.55 million tons → 16.31 million tons), △ Automobiles and parts 5.5% (4.61 million tons → 4.36 million tons), △ Petrochemicals 1.6% (70.36 million tons → 69.21 million tons), △ IT and electronics 0.8% (28.82 million tons → 28.58 million tons).
