South Korea Emissions Fall Below 700 Million Tons in 2024 but 2030 Cuts Remain Challenging

South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions fell below 700 million tons in 2024, marking the lowest level since 2010 and representing a 2 percent decrease from 2023, largely due to reduced coal use and increased nuclear and renewable energy generation. This decline aligns with the government's interim target under its Basic Plan for Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth and supports the nation's goal to cut emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030. However, industrial emissions slightly increased due to higher output in petrochemical and refining sectors, and transport emissions remained steady amid slowing electric vehicle adoption. Despite progress in the power sector, experts warn that South Korea must achieve deeper cuts, averaging 3.6 percent annually, to meet its 2030 climate pledge. Meanwhile, a study by Swedish NGO Klimatkollen emphasizes the urgent global need to halve emissions every five years starting in 2025, requiring about a 12 percent annual reduction to have a 50/50 chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C. This highlights the challenge faced not only by South Korea but the world in accelerating emission reductions to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.