Government Proposes 40% Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target by 2030 (Update)

2050 Carbon Neutrality Committee Announces NDC Enhancement Plan... "Very Ambitious Goal"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] The government announced on the 8th that it will reduce the national greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to 2018 by 2030. This is a significantly increased target compared to the previous goal (26.3%).

Government ministries and the Presidential 2050 Carbon Neutrality Committee presented the '2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (NDC)' with this content on the morning of the same day. Domestic greenhouse gas emissions peaked at 727.6 million tons in 2018. The proposed NDC upgrade aims to reduce this emission to 436.6 million tons by 2030.

The government stated, "The reduction target was set considering the legislative intent of the Carbon Neutral Green Growth Basic Act and international trends." It added, "Considering the average annual reduction rate until 2030, the (presented) reduction target is very challenging," and "It reflects the government's strong policy will."

To achieve the government's proposed '40% reduction compared to 2018' target by 2030, emissions must be reduced by 4.17% annually. This is a much higher level compared to the UK (2.81%), the US (2.81%), and the European Union (1.98%). In other words, carbon reduction must be pursued very steeply.

The government's sectoral greenhouse gas emission targets are ▲Industry 222.6 million tons (14.5% decrease compared to the previous NDC target) ▲Power generation 149.9 million tons (-44.4%) ▲Transportation 61 million tons (-37.8%) ▲Buildings 35 million tons (-32.8%) ▲Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 18.3 million tons (-25.9%) ▲Waste 9.1 million tons (-46.8%) ▲Hydrogen 760,000 tons (new) ▲Others 5.2 million tons (unchanged).

The government said, "To raise the NDC, efforts to reduce emissions were maximized in all sectors emitting greenhouse gases, including power generation, industry, buildings, transportation, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries," and "Both domestic and international reduction measures will be utilized, with domestic measures prioritized."

In this regard, an online discussion on the NDC upgrade proposal was held on the same day with participation from associations and organizations in industry, labor, civil society, youth, education, relevant ministries, and local governments. After collecting opinions, the proposal will be reviewed and resolved at the full meeting of the Carbon Neutrality Committee scheduled for the 18th, followed by the Cabinet meeting for final confirmation. The finalized NDC upgrade plan will be announced to the international community through the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26) scheduled next month and will be officially submitted to the United Nations (UN) in December.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.