Kim Sung-hwan, the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, spoke at a public hearing on November 6 at the National Assembly Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, discussing the 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for greenhouse gas reduction targets. The government unveiled two options to reduce emissions by 50-60% or 53-60% compared to 2018 levels. The lower limit is set at 50% or 53%, with an upper limit of 60%.
At the National Assembly hearing, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment presented two proposals for the 2035 greenhouse gas reduction target: Option 1 suggests a reduction of 50-60% compared to 2018, and Option 2 suggests 53-60%. Previously, the government had discussed four options: a 48% reduction, a 53% reduction, a 61% reduction, and a 65% reduction. The 48% reduction is an industry-proposed target, while the 53% reduction aligns with a steady annual decrease leading to carbon neutrality by 2050. The 61% reduction reflects the recommendations of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the 65% reduction fulfills demands from climate organizations and civil society.
The government appears to have chosen a compromise, considering industrial realities and international requirements. The department explained, “The lower limit focuses on achievable goals, while the upper limit depends on innovative technological development and industrial improvements.”
Previously, countries such as the United States (61-66% reduction compared to 2005), Canada (45-50% reduction compared to 2005), Australia (62-70% reduction compared to 2005), and the EU (66.25-72.5% reduction compared to 1990) have also submitted NDCs with specified ranges.
Minister Kim stated, “Civil society demands a reduction of at least 61%, up to 65%, while the industrial sector finds even a 48% reduction challenging. We’ve made efforts to find a balance among conflicting viewpoints.”
To reach the 2035 NDC, sector-specific reduction targets were also revealed: power by 68.8-75.3%, transport by 50.5-62.8%, and industry by 24.3-28.0%. The government plans to rapidly expand renewable energy by easing regulatory distances and accelerating approvals, and it will develop a mobility electrification roadmap to boost the share of electric and hydrogen vehicles.
The government will review and approve the final 2035 NDC through the presidential 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee and a Cabinet meeting next week, and it plans to announce the targets at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, from November 11-20.