South Korea's emissions decline, yet objective of reducing emissions by 2030 remains elusive

South Korea Makes Progress in Emissions Reduction, but Falls Short of Targets

In 2024, South Korea saw a significant improvement in its carbon absorption from forests, as wildfire damage and deforestation eased, leading to a 1.8% increase. However, the country's overall greenhouse gas emissions picture remains concerning, with the total emissions in 2024 standing at 691.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 2% decrease from 2023.

The power generation sector accounted for much of the decline in greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Coal-fired generation decreased by 9.6%, while output from renewables and nuclear plants increased by 8.6% and 4.6% respectively. This shift towards cleaner energy sources is a positive step, but climate advocacy group Solutions for Our Climate criticized the current emissions reduction status, stating that the government's pace is "far off target".

The energy conversion sector also saw a decrease in emissions, with a 5.4% reduction in 2024, despite a 1.3% increase in electricity consumption. This is largely due to improvements in energy efficiency, such as the increased use of LED lighting.

However, other sectors have not fared as well. Transport-related emissions decreased only 0.4%, adding up to 97.5 million tons in total. Diesel car use fell by 4.2%, but the spread of zero-emission vehicles, such as electric vehicles, slowed. Emissions from agriculture and fisheries dropped 2.7%, due to reduced rice cultivation, but industrial emissions edged up 0.5%, largely due to increased output in the petrochemical and refining sectors and a lack of significant efficiency improvements.

Waste-related emissions fell 3.4% in 2024, as landfill volumes decreased. The building sector also saw emissions decline by 2.8%, due to warmer winters reducing natural gas consumption.

To meet the 2030 target of 440 million tons, a further 202 million tons must be cut, equivalent to annual reductions of at least 3.6 percent. The South Korean government acknowledges that the current pace of reductions falls short of Korea's 2030 NDCs. The statement from Solutions for Our Climate implies that the current annual reduction rate of 2 percent is insufficient to achieve the NDCs by 2030.

In order to meet the Paris Agreement 2030 emission reduction targets, the South Korean government must implement rapid and extensive transformations in its energy systems, agriculture, and transportation sectors. This includes increasing renewable energy capacities, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable, resilient food production systems that protect biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. These measures align with scientific recommendations highlighting the need for fast, broad societal changes to limit global warming to well below 2°C.

South Korea's emissions decline, yet objective of reducing emissions by 2030 remains elusive