Slowing pace of greenhouse gas reduction in Korea... concerns over achieving the 2030 target

The National Climate Crisis Response Committee on the 30th approved the review results of the 2025 greenhouse gas reduction targets and the implementation of the national basic plan, and assessed that Korea's reduction pace is slowing down. Last year's net greenhouse gas emissions were tentatively tallied at 590.9 million tons, exceeding the annual target, but concerns were raised about the likelihood of achieving the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). By sector, industry, power conversion, and buildings met their targets, but some were analyzed to have been heavily affected by external factors such as an economic slowdown and disruptions in nuclear power plant operations. On the other hand, the transport, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, and waste sectors failed to meet their targets, with particularly sluggish adoption of electric and hydrogen vehicles and insufficient waste reduction cited. The committee stated that to lower net emissions to around 436.6 million tons by 2030, they must be reduced by 5.9% every year going forward. Lee Changhoon, the privatesector chair, emphasized that the reduction rate is actually slowing, and that stronger policy support, industrial restructuring, and expanded renewable energy are needed.