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ESG keywords to ponder during a short lunch break.
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is a commemorative day established to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the stratospheric ozone layer and regulating ozone-depleting substances. Observed annually on September 16, the day marks the adoption of the Montreal Protocol — humanity's first successful international agreement for environmental protection — and was designated to remind the world of the importance of global cooperation and sustained effort in protecting the Earth's environment.The stratospheric ozone layer, located 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, acts as a natural shield by absorbing the sun's powerful ultraviolet radiation and protecting life on Earth. When this shield is damaged, the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface increases — causing a range of serious environmental problems, including various forms of skin cancer and cataracts, genetic mutations in terrestrial organisms, reduced agricultural yields, and the destruction of marine ecosystems.From the 1970s onward, scientists began discovering that chemical substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were depleting the ozone layer. Starting with the 1985 Vienna Convention to regulate the use and production of such substances, the Montreal Protocol — regulating the production and use of ozone-depleting substances — was adopted in Montreal, Canada, on September 16, 1987. In 1994, the 49th UN General Assembly officially designated the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, calling on all participating nations to mark the day with concrete actions aligned with the objectives of the Montreal Protocol.[International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer ⓒESG.ONL]Each year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) uses this occasion to review the current state of ozone layer protection and announce new action guidelines. According to the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion report published by UNEP in 2023, as a result of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is currently recovering slowly — with the Antarctic ozone hole projected to fully recover by around 2066.However, new challenges continue to emerge due to climate change and the appearance of new chemical substances, making the sustained attention and engagement of companies from an ESG management perspective increasingly important. In the semiconductor and chemical industries in particular, developing substitutes for ozone-depleting substances and adopting eco-friendly processes are becoming key indicators in ESG assessments.The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is more than a simple commemorative occasion — it is both a success story of human cooperation and action in the face of environmental crisis, and an important reminder of the need for sustained effort toward a sustainable future. When the small everyday practices that persist not just on September 16, but across all 365 days of the year, accumulate together, the sustainability of ozone layer protection and global environmental conservation will only grow stronger. by Editor O
10/01/2025
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is a commemorative day established to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the stratospheric ozone layer and regulating ozone-depleting substances. Observed annually on September 16, the day marks the adoption of the Montreal Protocol — humanity's first successful international agreement for environmental protection — and was designated to remind the world of the importance of global cooperation and sustained effort in protecting the Earth's environment.The stratospheric ozone layer, located 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, acts as a natural shield by absorbing the sun's powerful ultraviolet radiation and protecting life on Earth. When this shield is damaged, the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface increases — causing a range of serious environmental problems, including various forms of skin cancer and cataracts, genetic mutations in terrestrial organisms, reduced agricultural yields, and the destruction of marine ecosystems.[International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer ⓒESG.ONL]From the 1970s onward, scientists began discovering that chemical substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were depleting the ozone layer. Starting with the 1985 Vienna Convention to regulate the use and production of such substances, the Montreal Protocol — regulating the production and use of ozone-depleting substances — was adopted in Montreal, Canada, on September 16, 1987. In 1994, the 49th UN General Assembly officially designated the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, calling on all participating nations to mark the day with concrete actions aligned with the objectives of the Montreal Protocol.Each year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) uses this occasion to review the current state of ozone layer protection and announce new action guidelines. According to the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion report published by UNEP in 2023, as a result of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is currently recovering slowly — with the Antarctic ozone hole projected to fully recover by around 2066.However, new challenges continue to emerge due to climate change and the appearance of new chemical substances, making the sustained attention and engagement of companies from an ESG management perspective increasingly important. In the semiconductor and chemical industries in particular, developing substitutes for ozone-depleting substances and adopting eco-friendly processes are becoming key indicators in ESG assessments.The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is more than a simple commemorative occasion — it is both a success story of human cooperation and action in the face of environmental crisis, and an important reminder of the need for sustained effort toward a sustainable future. When the small everyday practices that persist not just on September 16, but across all 365 days of the year, accumulate together, the sustainability of ozone layer protection and global environmental conservation will only grow stronger. by Editor O
09/22/2025
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is a commemorative day established to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the stratospheric ozone layer and regulating ozone-depleting substances. Observed annually on September 16, the day marks the adoption of the Montreal Protocol — humanity's first successful international agreement for environmental protection — and was designated to remind the world of the importance of global cooperation and sustained effort in protecting the Earth's environment.The stratospheric ozone layer, located 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, acts as a natural shield by absorbing the sun's powerful ultraviolet radiation and protecting life on Earth. When this shield is damaged, the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface increases — causing a range of serious environmental problems, including various forms of skin cancer and cataracts, genetic mutations in terrestrial organisms, reduced agricultural yields, and the destruction of marine ecosystems.[International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer ⓒESG.ONL]From the 1970s onward, scientists began discovering that chemical substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were depleting the ozone layer. Starting with the 1985 Vienna Convention to regulate the use and production of such substances, the Montreal Protocol — regulating the production and use of ozone-depleting substances — was adopted in Montreal, Canada, on September 16, 1987. In 1994, the 49th UN General Assembly officially designated the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, calling on all participating nations to mark the day with concrete actions aligned with the objectives of the Montreal Protocol.Each year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) uses this occasion to review the current state of ozone layer protection and announce new action guidelines. According to the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion report published by UNEP in 2023, as a result of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is currently recovering slowly — with the Antarctic ozone hole projected to fully recover by around 2066.However, new challenges continue to emerge due to climate change and the appearance of new chemical substances, making the sustained attention and engagement of companies from an ESG management perspective increasingly important. In the semiconductor and chemical industries in particular, developing substitutes for ozone-depleting substances and adopting eco-friendly processes are becoming key indicators in ESG assessments.The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is more than a simple commemorative occasion — it is both a success story of human cooperation and action in the face of environmental crisis, and an important reminder of the need for sustained effort toward a sustainable future. When the small everyday practices that persist not just on September 16, but across all 365 days of the year, accumulate together, the sustainability of ozone layer protection and global environmental conservation will only grow stronger. by Editor O
09/17/2025
A flash drought is a new form of drought that develops rapidly due to intensifying heatwaves and increased evaporation driven by climate change. Unlike conventional droughts — which develop slowly over extended periods as precipitation remains insufficient for a prolonged time — flash droughts can emerge within just a few weeks to months even when rainfall is not significantly deficient, driven by high temperatures and strong evaporation.Flash droughts reach severe levels within a short period as a result of various meteorological anomalies, including changes in precipitation, temperature, wind, and solar radiation. In particular, the simultaneous rise in surface temperatures and abnormal depletion of soil moisture places extreme stress on vegetation, leading to widespread crop losses and disruptions to water supply.[Flash Drought ⓒESG.ONL]The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, published in 2021, projected that the frequency and intensity of flash droughts will increase markedly worldwide under both the 1.5°C and 2°C global warming scenarios. In South Korea, however, flash droughts have yet to be clearly defined in domestic policy, meaning they are not reflected in early warning systems. National drought statistics are currently recorded and managed only on a monthly early warning basis, with weekly early warnings used only as informal supplementary data — leading to growing criticism that systematic monitoring of flash droughts is not being conducted.As climate change intensifies heatwaves, polarizes precipitation patterns, and disrupts atmospheric circulation — causing rapid depletion of soil moisture — flash droughts are no longer rare occurrences. The flash drought in Gangneung marks the first nationally declared drought disaster in South Korea, foreshadowing the climate crises that will recur in the years ahead. The Korean Peninsula is particularly vulnerable to flash droughts due to its characteristic pattern of concentrated summer rainfall and dry winters, making the urgent establishment of early warning systems — alongside comprehensive response measures including agricultural water management and ecosystem protection — an essential priority. by Editor O
09/11/2025
Resource Circulation Day is a commemorative day designated by the Ministry of Environment in 2009 to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the global environment and recycling resources. The Ministry established it to build national awareness that waste is also a valuable resource and to promote the importance of resource conservation and recycling. Resource Circulation Day falls on September 6 each year — the numbers 9 and 6 were chosen because, reflecting the concept of "circulation," each becomes the other when flipped upside down.The resource circulation referred to on this day means minimizing the generation of waste, recycling the waste that is produced, reducing the environmental impact of waste to the greatest extent possible, and managing the resource cycle in an environmentally friendly way. While the resources the Earth provides are finite, we generate enormous quantities of waste in our daily lives. According to the Ministry of Environment, as of 2019, illegal waste amounted to approximately 1.2 million tonnes, and plastic bag usage alone reached 25.5 billion bags. A discarded thin plastic bag takes an average of more than 500 years to decompose underground, a metal can takes 100 years, and disposable chopsticks take more than 20 years.[Resource Circulation Day ⓒESG.ONL]In this context, Resource Circulation Day is more than just a commemorative occasion — it is a starting point for action toward a sustainable future. Small everyday actions such as proper waste separation, reducing single-use items, and practicing reuse and recycling can accumulate into meaningful change. The time has come to put into practice the wisdom needed to sustain the Earth's finite resources, guided by the recognition that waste, too, is a precious resource. by Editor O
09/09/2025
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is a commemorative day established to raise awareness of the importance of the atmospheric environment and to deepen understanding of and engagement with climate change. Observed annually on September 7, it is the first UN commemorative day to have been adopted at South Korea's initiative, and was created to draw global attention to the serious problem of air pollution and to reaffirm the world's commitment to working together for clean, clear air.The day was first proposed as a UN commemorative day at the UN Climate Action Summit held in New York in September 2019. That same December, the 74th UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating September 7 each year as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. Subsequently, at the 41st Cabinet Meeting in 2020, South Korea decided to recognize the day as a national legal commemorative holiday — making it a special occasion that is simultaneously a UN commemorative day and a national holiday.[International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies ⓒESG.ONL]The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies has also served as an opportunity to communicate to the international community that air pollution is a global issue that crosses borders, and that it is an urgent challenge requiring the cooperation of all nations. Each year, the UN Environment Programme sets a thematic slogan for the day. The slogan for this year's sixth observance is "Racing for Air," carrying a message that goes beyond identifying the problem to emphasize particularly the urgency of action. Small everyday practices — making cycling and public transport a habit, reducing single-use items, and cutting standby power consumption by maintaining appropriate indoor temperatures — sustained not just on September 7 but throughout all 365 days of the year, will collectively expand the sustainability of blue skies.The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies goes beyond being a simple commemorative day — it is a global day of action for protecting the atmospheric environment, a challenge shared by all of humanity. Through this special day, proposed by South Korea and embraced by the world, the time has come for all of us to join in the effort to restore clean, blue skies. by Editor O
09/03/2025
Business As Usual (BAU) refers to an estimate of the total volume of greenhouse gases projected to be emitted in the absence of deliberate measures to reduce them. For example, a 2030 BAU figure represents the total greenhouse gas emissions expected in 2030 if current trends continue without any intentional reduction efforts.A BAU projection assumes that current policies, economic activities, energy consumption, technological levels, and environmental management practices remain unchanged — without any specific policy intervention or structural transformation. In environmental, energy, and climate change modeling, a BAU figure serves as the "baseline state" before any intervention, functioning as a reference point against which the effects of additional policies or technological innovation can be compared. It enables the forecasting of future trends in greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and economic growth, and allows for the assessment of the negative impacts that would be expected in the absence of any change.[BAU — Business As Usual (Greenhouse Gas Emission Projection) ⓒESG.ONL]In June 2015, South Korea set a target of reducing its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by 37% compared to the 2030 BAU projection of 850 million tonnes. The implementation plan at the time called for domestic reductions of 25.7% and international reductions of 11.3%. Following a revised 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap announced in 2018, South Korea changed its 2030 target in December 2020 from a BAU-based approach to an absolute emissions reduction approach. The new target was set at a 24.4% reduction from 2017 emission levels — a move seen as adopting the internationally credible absolute quantity standard.Although BAU projections carry greater uncertainty compared to absolute emission figures, they will continue to serve as a useful reference for anticipating future changes and identifying the need for policy responses and technological innovation. by Editor O
08/29/2025
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is a directive that obligates companies to directly identify, prevent, and mitigate the actual and potential adverse impacts on human rights and the environment resulting from their business activities, and to disclose this information transparently. The "due diligence" referred to here does not mean the investigative due diligence of physical inspection, but rather a series of processes through which companies prevent and remedy adverse impacts.The CSDDD was developed as part of the European Green Deal announced by the EU in 2019. Proposed by the European Commission on February 23, 2022, it underwent extensive deliberation before being formally adopted at a plenary session of the European Parliament on April 24, 2024 — two years later — and officially entered into force on July 24 of the same year. Even before the directive came into force, some EU member states had enacted their own national due diligence laws, and large companies had voluntarily implemented due diligence processes. However, the absence of mandatory requirements and unified standards meant that participation and transparency remained limited.[ⓒESG.ONL]Through this directive, the EU has established common standards and legal obligations for sustainable management — a landmark achievement in that it is the first time due diligence processes and implementation principles have been codified into law at the level of a regional community rather than individual nations.The core objective of the CSDDD is to embed management practices that account for human rights and environmental impacts across all stakeholders throughout the entire supply chain. The due diligence items under the CSDDD are divided into two categories: human rights and the environment. The human rights category includes the right to life, freedom, labor rights, and the prohibition of child labor, based on instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The environmental category covers biodiversity, waste, pollutants, world cultural and natural heritage, oceans, and wetlands.The CSDDD requires companies — both within and outside the EU — that meet certain criteria to conduct due diligence not only on their own operations and subsidiaries, but also on the activities of their suppliers and business partners. The scope of due diligence covers both upstream and downstream operations — from raw material production through to product distribution — excluding the product disposal and consumer use stages.The due diligence process consists of nine stages, beginning with embedding due diligence into corporate policy: ▲ identification and assessment of adverse impacts ▲ prevention and mitigation of potential adverse impacts ▲ cessation and minimization of actual adverse impacts ▲ remediation of adverse impacts ▲ monitoring ▲ due diligence disclosure ▲ meaningful stakeholder engagement ▲ establishment and operation of notification mechanisms and grievance procedures.In February 2025, the EU announced the EU Omnibus Simplification Package, which reduces the scope of the CSDDD in an effort to ease the regulatory and administrative burden on companies. As a result, the implementation timeline was pushed back by one year — from 2027 to 2028 — and the monitoring cycle was simplified from annual to once every five years. Additionally, supplier risk assessments were adjusted to focus on first-tier direct supply chains, with the obligation to assess indirect supply chains (second- and third-tier suppliers) removed.[ⓒESG.ONL]Although the scope and pace of the policy may shift depending on political and economic circumstances, with the CSDDD's implementation approaching, companies need to internalize human rights into their corporate culture and commit to long-term efforts. Amid the intensifying global competition and uncertainty brought about by technological revolution, the CSDDD is expected to serve as a key instrument for substantially enhancing corporate sustainability. by Editor O
08/22/2025