South Korea Ranks 57th out of 60 Countries in Global Climate Change Response

Climate Change Response Index Calculated for 60 Countries and the European Union Accounting for 90% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Only Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran Rank Lower than Korea
No Country Rated 'Very Excellent'; Top 3 Overall Rankings Vacant

South Korea ranks at the bottom with a "very poor" rating in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) by country. Graphic by Climate Solutions

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] South Korea's national climate change response goals and implementation levels have been evaluated as among the lowest in the international community.

On the 14th, according to the nonprofit organization Climate Solutions, the international evaluation agency Germanwatch and the climate research institute NewClimate Institute assessed the climate policies and implementation levels of 60 countries and the European Union, which account for 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and released the 18th "Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)" report. The CCPI is published annually, reflecting the latest policies and issues of each country.

In this announcement, South Korea received a "very poor" rating again this year, following last year. Among the 60 countries surveyed, it ranked 57th, near the bottom. Only three countries?Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran?received worse evaluations than South Korea. Last year, South Korea was ranked 59th.

No country met all evaluation criteria, so the overall ranks 1 to 3 were left vacant. Denmark received the best score at 4th place, followed by Sweden, Chile, and Morocco.

This evaluation reflected South Korea's 2030 national greenhouse gas reduction target (NDC) revision announced at the end of last year, which includes a 40% reduction compared to 2018, the 2050 carbon neutrality scenario, and its joining of the Global Methane Pledge. However, the analysis still finds South Korea's efforts to address the climate crisis very insufficient.

The CCPI evaluates four categories: greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy consumption, and climate policy, assigning scores to each and summing them to produce an overall national score. South Korea received the lowest grade of "very poor" in greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, and energy consumption, and a "poor" rating in climate policy.

South Korea was evaluated as regressing in climate crisis response by reducing its renewable energy deployment targets, which are key to greenhouse gas reduction efforts. Experts emphasize that to respond to the climate crisis, South Korea must raise the share of renewable energy generation to over 30% by 2030 and phase out coal power generation step by step.

The slow deployment of renewable energy in South Korea was attributed to complex permitting regulations and unfair grid access rights. Joo Gyuri, a researcher at Climate Solutions, said, "Despite South Korea's successive climate target declarations last year, some policies contradicting these goals have caused South Korea to remain in the lowest ranks of the CCPI this year as well. To expand renewable energy deployment, immediate efforts are needed to improve the current monopolistic electricity market structure, simplify complex permitting regulations, and raise renewable energy deployment targets."

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