Korea cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5% more than target in 2023: panel

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a plenary meeting of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, Oct. 30. Yonhap

Korea cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5 percent more than its target in 2023, a presidential panel said Wednesday.

Total emissions amounted to 624 million tons, with almost all fields reporting reductions exceeding the target, including an extra 10.2 percent in energy transitions, an extra 6.8 percent in industries and an extra 7.1 percent in buildings, according to the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth.

The results were reported during a plenary meeting led by the commission's co-chief, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, on Wednesday.

The commission attributed the reductions to increased nuclear power development, improvements to industrial structures and favorable global economic conditions.

It called for continuing reductions overall and across all sectors by developing and applying environment-friendly technologies and improving relevant policies. (Yonhap)