South Korea
Rating
Assessment
South Korea was rated Sufficient because it has proposed a voluntary reduction target that is relatively stringent. It is a substantial deviation from the reference emissions.
It is unclear if South Korea will meet its pledge. Much will depend on how effectively the planned ETS is implemented.
Description
South Korea has agreed to reduce its emissions 30% below reference emissions in 2020. The target was proposed in November 2009 and submitted to the Copenhagen Accord on 25 January 2010. In its 3rd National Communication (2012), South Korea lowered its business as usual projections to 776 MtCO2e/a in 2020 (before 813 MtCO2e/a). It notes that “this recalculation does not change the 30% reduction goal rate”., South Korea is the only country that increased the stringency of its pledge by correcting BAU emissions downwards.
South Korea has also provided a national climate change strategy
Status
Cabinet decision submitted, submitted under the Copenhagen Accord and acknowledged under the Cancun Agreements
Date of pledge
17 November 2009
Source
South Korea’s 3rd National Communication to the UNFCCC, 2012
Höhne et al., 2012, Greenhouse gas emission reduction proposals and national climate policies of major economies
South Korea's pledge to the Copenhagen Accord
Press release of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth
Assumptions
Historical emissions are taken from the national communication. Reference emissions were taken from the press announcement.
