1. At the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn at the Seoul government complex on December 6, the government of the Republic of Korea finalized its first “basic plan for addressing climate change” after a review by the Presidential Committee on Green Growth on December 5.

[First basic plan for addressing climate change]

2. “The basic plan” established pursuant to “the Framework Act on Low Carbon Green Growth” is the ROK’s first comprehensive package of mid- to long-term strategies and specific action plans to be implemented under the new, post-2020 climate regime. It contains the full range of measures to be taken in that regard, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaption to climate change and cooperation with the international community.

3. Some of the main tasks to be implemented to tackle climate change are supplying new and renewable energy; generating more clean fuel; improving energy efficiency; enhancing the efficacy of carbon sinks; using the carbon market and other ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the economic sector; boosting investment in the ten main climate-related technologies -- new growth engines in the low-carbon era; and actively cultivating new energy industries.

4. With the new climate regime launched at an early date, a detail plan for the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change has yet to be set. The ROK’s basic plan will accommodate future decisions by the international community regarding ways to use the international carbon market, implement the carbon reduction plan and monitor the progress. It will also reflect the economic conditions at home and changes in the international policy on climate change.

[2030 basic roadmap for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions]

5. “The 2030 basic roadmap for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” which was finalized along with “the basic plan,” contains ways to systematically and efficiently attain the ROK’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2030.

6. The basic roadmap calls for reducing 219 million tons of greenhouse gas in eight sectors, including industry and construction, by 2030.

7. Overseas, 96 million tons of greenhouse gas will be reduced through the international market mechanism, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement.

8. The ROK government will draw up an implementation roadmap before submitting its nationally determine contribution (NDC).


* unofficial translation