Korea raised its 2030 target: a 40% emissions reduction relative to 2018

The Korean Carbon Neutrality Commission approved on 18 October 2021 a new climate target for 2030: a 40% reduction in national greenhouse gas emissions relative to the 2018 level. On the same day the commission adopted scenarios for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The commission's decision

According to Asia Economy, the presidential advisory commission — co-chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum — approved at its second plenary meeting "a proposal to strengthen the 2030 NDC" and "a proposal for 2050 neutrality scenarios". Eighteen government members and 51 private-sector members took part in the proceedings. In August the commission presented three neutrality scenarios, of which two were approved after analysis; both assume achieving neutrality through domestic reductions and a complete phase-out of coal power by 2050. The commission recommended creating a legal basis and appropriate compensation measures in connection with the phase-out of coal. The ministries taking part in announcing the results included the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment.

Rationale and criticism

The commission explained that, given the structure of Korean industry, the short time from the emissions peak to neutrality and the high annual rate of reduction compared with other large economies, the 40% target "is not easy". The media noted that the target was approved just ten days after the proposal was first announced (8 October), which prompted criticism that it had not been sufficiently consulted with industry. Prime Minister Kim called the decision an opportunity for innovation that would allow high-emission industry and energy to be modernised towards a low-carbon economy. He also stressed that planning alone is not enough — each ministry is to prepare specific roadmaps and implementation plans — and indicated that promising sectors in the transition process include the hydrogen economy and the revival of the circular economy.

Why this matters for renewable gases

A higher target increases pressure on sectors where the cost of reduction is relatively low — including waste and agriculture. Methane from food waste, slurry and wastewater is an emission that can be reduced through anaerobic digestion with biogas recovery. This direction was later reinforced by the Korean act on biogas production from organic waste (separate entries).