Korean Bar Association to Host Forum on Directions for Amending the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality

Establishing Long-Term Reduction Pathways Aligned with the 1.5°C Goal and Human Rights Obligations

The Korean Bar Association announced on the 27th that it will co-host a discussion forum titled "Establishing Long-Term Reduction Pathways in Line with UN Human Rights Council Recommendations (UPR) and Directions for Amending the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality" at 2:00 p.m. on the 28th in the 10th meeting room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The event is being held in collaboration with National Assembly members Lee Soyoung and Park Jihye of the Democratic Party of Korea, National Assembly member Seo Wangjin of the Cho Guk Innovation Party, and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.

Korean Bar Association

In the final outcome of the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations in 2023, the Korean government was recommended to set national greenhouse gas reduction targets in accordance with its "human rights obligations" and the "1.5°C goal" of the Paris Agreement, and has accepted these recommendations. In addition, in 2024, the Constitutional Court delivered a decision of unconstitutionality with respect to a climate litigation case. As a result, the National Assembly is now carrying out legislative improvements and public consultation procedures to incorporate long-term reduction pathways for the period from 2031 to 2049 into the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality.

This discussion forum has been organized to review the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and global trends in responding to climate change, and to discuss the establishment of long-term reduction pathways and the ensuing directions for amending the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality that are aligned with both the 1.5°C goal and human rights obligations.

The forum will be chaired by lawyer Jo Ara, Chair of the Special Committee on International Human Rights of the Korean Bar Association. The first presentation will be delivered by Baek Beomseok, Professor at Kyung Hee University Law School and Chair of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, under the theme "Climate Crisis and Human Rights – Focusing on UPR Recommendations." He will present on measures to codify long-term reduction pathways into law and establish legal standards, based on the Constitutional Court decision, the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and the adoption of UPR recommendations. The second presentation will be made by lawyer Choi Changmin of Plan 1.5 (also a member of the Korean Bar Association Special Committee on International Human Rights), who will propose directions for amending the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality in order to review and reset long-term reduction pathways that align with human rights obligations and the 1.5°C goal, as well as ways to monitor their implementation.

The subsequent panel discussion will feature Lee Junyi, Professor at the Climate Science Research Institute of Pusan National University; Jo Jeonghee, Director of Social Human Rights at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea; Kim Borim, an activist with Youth Climate Action; Park Siwon, Professor at Kangwon National University Law School; and Park Hyungwook, an official at the Climate Energy Policy Division of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Each will share their perspectives on various improvement measures from their respective fields.

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