Republic of Korea
The Republic of Korea ranks 63rd and near the very bottom of the current CCPI. The country continues to rate very low in all CCPI categories: Climate Policy, Energy Use, Renewable Energy, and GHG Emissions.
Unconstitutional Climate Measures
On 29 August 2024, the Constitutional Court of South Korea ruled that the country’s climate measures were inadequate and unconstitutional. The court determined that the lack of an emissions reduction plan after 2030 infringes on the basic rights of the country’s current and future generations.
South Korea’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) includes the goals of increasing the renewable energy share to 70% and phasing out coal by 2050. The CCPI national experts assert that the goal should be more aligned with the Paris Agreement and updated to phasing out coal and gas-powered energy by 2035.
No End to New Oil and Gas
In international climate politics, the CCPI experts welcome South Korea’s joining the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane by 30% compared with the 2020 level. However, the country should halt new oil and gas financing and exploration (e.g. exploration of the Daewang gas project).
The experts anticipate more ambitious targets for phasing out fossil fuels, better implementation plans to speed up renewable energy, and for the government to take the Constitutional Court’s ruling into account in national climate measures.
Key Outcomes
- The Republic of Korea ranks 63rd and near the very bottom of the current CCPI
- In 2024, the Constitutional Court of South Korea ruled that the country’s climate measures were inadequate and unconstitutional
- Key demands: more ambitious targets for phasing out fossil fuels and better implementation plans to speed up renewable energy
CCPI Experts
National experts that contributed to the policy evaluation of this year’s CCPI chose to remain anonymous.
