South Korea Passes Carbon Neutrality Law Targeting 53-61% Emission Reduction by 2035

The South Korean government has legally committed to reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 53% to 61% from 2018 levels by 2035. The law also sets sequential reduction targets for 2040 and 2045, clarifying the carbon neutrality pathway beyond 2030.

On August 26, the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment announced that the National Assembly passed amendments to the "Basic Law on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Responding to the Climate Crisis" and the "Law on Climate Crisis Adaptation and Resilience Enhancement."

The amendment to the carbon neutrality law follows a Constitutional Court ruling in August 2024, which found that the existing law lacked emission reduction targets from 2031 to 2049. While the court upheld the goal of reducing emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, it deemed the absence of a post-2030 reduction pathway insufficient to protect the environmental rights of future generations.

The revised law mandates the establishment of long-term reduction targets every five years after 2030. The 2035 target aligns with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted by the government to the international community last year, aiming for a 53% to 61% reduction.

For 2040, the law sets a lower limit of 69% and an upper limit of 80%, to be determined by presidential decree by June 2031. The 2045 target will have a lower limit of 84% and an upper limit of 90%, finalized by June 2036.

The law also includes principles to prevent excessive burden shifting to future generations. It establishes a legal basis for government support in research, development, investment, and commercialization of greenhouse gas reduction technologies.

An independent advisory body, the Climate Science Committee, will be established under the National Climate Crisis Response Committee. This committee will scientifically review long-term reduction targets and implementation progress. The law also introduces definitions for green finance and transition finance, along with provisions for issuing green bonds to fund climate response initiatives.

Additionally, a separate climate adaptation law has been enacted to reduce the impacts of climate disasters. Key elements include separating adaptation provisions from the carbon neutrality law and enhancing climate risk assessments and support for vulnerable populations.

The government will investigate climate impacts and vulnerabilities by sector and region, visualizing climate risks using spatial information for public access. Central and local governments, along with public institutions, are required to develop climate crisis adaptation measures and risk reduction projects based on this data.

Provisions have also been established to conduct tailored support programs for vulnerable groups and areas prone to repeated climate disaster impacts. The law includes plans to build a comprehensive climate insurance information system and foster related industries.

A ministry official stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the two laws passed today are implemented smoothly in policy practice, including preparing necessary subordinate regulations."