North Korea flagEnvironment & Sustainability Guide

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies in North Korea

North Korea faces significant environmental challenges including deforestation, air pollution from coal reliance, and vulnerability to floods exacerbated by climate change. Forest coverage stands at approximately 45-50% with recent reforestation efforts, but food security is threatened by extreme weather. GHG emissions have declined since the 1990s, yet data scarcity limits comprehensive assessment.

Air Quality Index

Poor
4.0/10
Stable trend

Air quality data is limited (current AQI N/A, stable trend). Heavy reliance on low-quality coal for energy causes high pollution, with North Korea's pollution-related mortality highest globally and contributing 20% to South Korea's air pollution.

Water Quality

Poor
4.0/10

Access to clean water is limited, affecting millions. Floods damage water infrastructure, increasing vulnerability to waterborne diseases. Deforestation-induced erosion contributes to marine pollution impacting aquatic ecosystems.

Limited access to essential services including clean water; post-flood risks heighten contamination.

Recycling System

No specific recycling rate or types available in database (N/A%). Limited data on infrastructure amid resource constraints and deforestation for biofuel.

Green Spaces

Forest coverage increased to 45% by 2019 from reforestation efforts under Kim Jong Un, who banned cultivation on slopes >15 degrees. In 2020, 6.1 Mha natural forest (50% land area); 16 kha lost in 2024.

Forest Coverage: 45.0%
Reforestation as 'war to improve nature'; progress since 2015 despite past deforestation for food/biofuel.

Environmental Policies

Policies emphasize reforestation and emission reductions: committed to 15.63% GHG cut by 2030 (up to 50.34% with support). North Korean report acknowledges extreme weather degrading soil.

Key Policies:
  • Reforestation campaign
  • Emission reduction NDC
  • Slope cultivation ban
Renewable Energy: No specific renewable percentage (N/A%); coal-dominant energy mix.

Natural Disaster Risk

HIGH

Common disasters include floods and droughts. Recent: Northeastern floods affected 600,000, displaced 107,000, 133 deaths (recent event). Agriculture declined 3.8% in 2022 due to weather.

floodsdroughts
Climate Change Impacts: Winter temperatures rose 4.9°C, spring 2.4°C (1918-2000); increasing extreme weather frequency threatens food security. Precipitation variability, floods worsened by deforestation/sea level rise. GHG emissions ~56 Mt CO2 in 2021, declined 70% since 1993.

Sustainability Initiatives

Reforestation

Kim Jong Un's 'war to improve nature': banned slope >15° cultivation; forest coverage up 0.2% 2015-2019 to 45%. Addresses deforestation from food/biofuel needs.

Emission Reductions

NDC: 15.63% GHG reduction by 2030 (50.34% with support). Emissions peaked 1990s, down ~70%; 56 Mt CO2 in 2021 mostly coal.

Wildlife & Nature

Siberian TigerEndangered
Red-crowned CraneEndangered
Amur LeopardCritically Endangered