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Republic of Korea

New or Updated NDC

Analysis of Updated NDC
Timeframe 

January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2030

Relevant context 

First world country that is highly vulnerable to climate change.

Process for developing NDC 

The Republic of Korea seeks to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Consultations with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began in 2019. These resulted in the enhanced target of 40 percent emissions reduction from 2018, in line with the Carbon Neutrality Act. In addition, a technical working group consisting of experts “from national research agencies was set up to review the 2050 carbon-neutrality scenarios and develop ways to better connect the updated NDC with the 2050 scenarios.”

Description of Monitoring and/or Implementation Mechanism 

The Carbon Neutrality Act is discussed as a means to achieve the mitigation and adaptation targets in the Enhanced Update of the NDC. This Act seeks to strengthen mitigation and adaptation measures, and includes five key pillars:

  1. Climate impact assessment;
  2. Climate-responsive budgeting;
  3. Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS)
  4. Adaptation measures for the climate crisis; and
  5. The designation of special areas and establishment of support centers for the just transition.

A 2050 Carbon Neutrality Commission has been established aid in the country’s transition. Sectoral strategies have likewise been developed to achieve the 2050 goal, in addition to national plans such as the Basic Plan for Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth The government has also announced that annual plans per sector will be crafted to achieve the NDC, which the Carbon Neutrality Commission will release to the public upon review.

The Republic of Korea also plans to reduce GHG emissions through market-based mechanisms under the K-ETS. The Third Basic Plan for the K-ETS for 2021-2030 was developed in 2019, and this “sets out ways of ETS operation for the next decade, including [through] effective reduction measures, improved allocation methods, enhanced market functions, and linkage and collaboration with international carbon markets for contributing to achieving the 2030 target.”

Finally, the Korea Climate Action Fund will be established to finance the commitments reflected in the updated enhanced NDC.

Summary of gender reference 

None.

Gender Analysis Summary
Submitted NDC
Submitted language
Submitted translation
NDC commitments
Mitigation
Adaptation
Type of support
Unconditional
Participatory process for NDC development mentioned
No
Monitoring and/or implementation
Implementation
Reference to women/gender
No

Analysis of Original NDC

Timeframe 

Now until 2030

Relevant context 

Not specified.

Process for developing NDC 

In preparation of its NDC, Korea established a dedicated task force comprising relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office. A technical analysis for setting the 2030 mitigation target was conducted by a Joint Working Group of national research institutions, including the Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center of Korea (GIR) and the Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI). The results of the technical analysis of the Joint Working Group were reviewed by a group of experts put forward by different stakeholder groups such as business and civil society. The Korean government also collected feedback from various stakeholders through public hearings and a forum hosted by the National Assembly. On that basis, the 2030 mitigation target was reviewed by the Committee on Green Growth, and finalized in accordance with national authorization procedures.

Description of Monitoring and/or Implementation Mechanism 

The Korean government will develop a detailed plan to implement the mitigation target in consultation with relevant stakeholders, once the mitigation target is finalized at the international level.

Gender Analysis Summary
Submitted NDC
Submitted language
Submitted translation
NDC commitments
Mitigation
Adaptation
Type of support
Unconditional
Participatory process for NDC development mentioned
Yes
Monitoring and/or implementation
Monitoring
Implementation
Reference to women/gender
No

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