Gov't, ruling party reach consensus on 2035 greenhouse gas reduction
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, center, Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Jung Chung-rae, right, and presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik pose for a photo before a high-level policy consultation meeting between the ruling party and the government at the prime minister's residence in downtown Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Sunday reached a consensus on setting the nation's greenhouse gas emission reduction goal for 2035 at between 53 percent and 61 percent.
"The two sides reached a general agreement on the national target for greenhouse gas emission reduction, taking into account opinions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Constitutional Court's ruling, potential burdens on future generations and industrial conditions," DPK spokesperson Park Soo-hyun said.
He said the government and the ruling party agreed to ease reduction targets for the industrial sector, considering the nation's industrial structure centered on high-carbon manufacturing, the feasibility of reduction technologies and global competitiveness.
They also decided to support the decarbonization and industrial transition of companies, and to foster green industries by establishing a new comprehensive strategy.
"We also agreed to discuss ways to minimize the impact on existing industries, workers and local communities, such as those involved in coal-fired power plants and internal combustion engine vehicles, during the transition to a carbon-neutral society," he added.
During the government-DPK meeting, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok reaffirmed that the government will reflect demands from civil and industrial sectors as much as possible when setting the 2035 reduction goal.
"Based on respect for the Constitutional Court's ruling, the government will seek wisdom that reflects the international community, local civic groups, and industrial sectors," Kim said.
Last week, the government unveiled two proposals for the nationally determined contribution (NDC) by 2035, one of which will be submitted to the United Nations next week.
Under the first option, South Korea would cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 50 and 60 percent by the target year, while the second option calls for a reduction of between 53 and 60 percent.
Following the announcement, industry and environmental groups voiced concerns over the proposed targets, arguing they are either too high or too low.
In a ruling in August last year, the Constitutional Court stressed that greenhouse gas reduction targets must comply with scientific and international standards while avoiding excessive burdens on future generations.
The government plans to finalize the NDC proposal this week after deliberation by a presidential committee and approval by the Cabinet.