Carbon footprints and health security: A comparative assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 13 in East Asian countries

Abstract

In East Asia, where several countries are among the top emitters of carbon dioxide globally, the need to address the dual challenges of  reducing carbon footprints and ensuring health security is paramount. Against this backdrop, this study used a descriptive analysis to  provide a comparative assessment of the carbon footprints and the level of health security in East Asia using secondary data, sourced  from the World Development Indicators. The findings from the study show that it is only North Korea that its average carbon footprint of  every person is less than 2.3 tons. However, China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea are currently lagging behind in meeting the SDG 13  target. Meanwhile, North Korea recorded the highest incidence of tuberculosis in the region. Despite the fact that South Korea and Japan  were the highest emitter of CO₂, the duo had the lowest under five mortality, infant mortality, incidence of TB alongside the highest life  expectancies which surpassed the regional performance. In view of the above, the policymakers in Asia and the rest of the countries with  health insecurity should emulate the policymakers in Japan and South Korea by making adequate investment in health, education, and  standard of living of their citizens.