A Comparative Study on the Harmonization of National Standards with International Standards : Analyzing the Extent of Standards Utilization in the Carbon Neutrality Transition

As the climate crisis emerges as a global agenda, "carbon neutrality" has become a new paradigm reshaping national competitiveness. This study aims to empirically compare the harmonization level of international standards (ISO/IEC) in key carbon neutrality sectors across four major economies (EU, US, China, and Korea), and to derive policy implications therefrom. The research was conducted by analyzing the carbon neutrality policy trends of the four nations to identify nine common key technology sectors. Subsequently, the harmonization rate (%), representing the proportion of international standards adopted as national standards in each sector, was directly investigated and compared. The analysis revealed several key findings. First, a significant disparity in overall harmonization rates was observed depending on the standardization governance system, with Korea, which actively adopts international standards under government leadership, showing the highest rate (50.3%), while the US, which pursues an independent path led by the private sector, showed the lowest (14.5%). Second, by sector, harmonization rates were higher in areas closely linked to international trade regulations, such as ecodesign and environmental management. In contrast, technology-leading countries showed a passive tendency toward harmonization in technology sectors where competition for technological hegemony is intensifying. Third, "basic standards," which cover principles and guidelines, accounted for the highest proportion of standards commonly adopted by all countries, followed by "testing standards" and "product standards." These findings suggest that for South Korea to establish an effective carbon neutrality standardization strategy, a differentiated approach that considers both technological levels and the international regulatory environment is necessary.