Korea lowers carbon emissions reduction target citing challenges

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Korea lowers carbon emissions reduction target citing challenges

Published: 21 Mar. 2023, 17:52

Kim Sang-hyup, co-chair of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, explains the long-term basic carbon neutrality plan during a press briefing held at the government complex in Sejong, Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The government lowered the 2030 industrial carbon reduction target from the previous 14.5 percent to 11.4 percent, while maintaining the previous administration’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) goal.

The Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth on Tuesday announced the carbon emission reduction plan to achieve the NDC target by 2030.

NDCs are pledges on climate action submitted under the 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle global warming.

Korea’s NDC goal is reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent to 436.6 million tons from the country’s peak of 727.6 million tons in 2018.

The target figure, which was initially set in 2021 under the Moon Jae-in administration, remained the same in the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s latest reduction plan.

But the reduction target for industrial carbon emission was lowered from 14.5 percent set in 2021 to 11.4 percent.

The government cited “the realities of the domestic conditions,” such as the uncertainties in the raw materials supply and technological development projection for relaxing the emission reduction target for the private sector.

While the industry welcomed the target adjustment, the private sector said that the 11.4 percent goal remains an ambitious goal.

Choo Kwang-ho, economic research division head at the Federation of Korea Industries (FKI) said in a statement that though “lowering the emission reduction target” is a positive development, “the 11.4 percent target is still a very challenging target considering that Korea’s manufacturing-centered industry structure.”

“Reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent when there are only 7 years left until the target year of 2030 is certainly a challenging target,” also said Cho Young-jun, executive director of sustainable management institution at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), calling for active support from the government.

Environment activist groups said the Yoon administration is "moving backwards."

"The industrial reduction target should have been upped, not lowered, based on the polluter-pays principle," said Kwon Woo-hyun, head of the energy and climate team at the Korean Federation For Environmental Movement, emphasizing that industry is one of the biggest carbon emitters, emitting 35 percent of the total in 2018.

The government hopes to reduce carbon emissions by accelerating the energy transition from fossil fuels to nuclear energy and renewables. The reduction target from the energy mix adjustment was upped from the previously set 44.4 percent to 45.9 percent.

Korea aims to push up nuclear energy’s contribution to the energy mix to 32.4 percent by 2030, from 2021’s 27.4, according to the government’s long-term energy plan released in January.

Renewables will take up 21.6 percent in 2030, compared to 7.5 percent in 2021.

The carbon neutrality commission also outlined its basic plan covering 2023 through 2042 to achieve the NDC goal in 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The government plans to pour 89.9 trillion won ($68.7 billion) through 2027 into the carbon reduction strategy, with 54.6 trillion won be allotted to the carbon reduction technology development, subsidies for electric and hydrogen cars and building remodeling.

The public hearing for the government’s draft on the national plan for carbon neutrality will be held Wednesday, before the long-term basic plan is finalized in April.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]