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| Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae speaks during a media conference at the Han River Flood Control Office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Environment |
By Jun Ji-hye
Korea will become the 14th country to cement its goal of achieving carbon neutrality into law, once a bill aimed at cutting emissions in 2030 by 35 percent or more from 2018 levels is passed at the National Assembly's plenary session, scheduled for Wednesday, Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae said Tuesday.
Minister Han said during a media conference that through the passage of the bill, the country will take its first step toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as the bill provides detailed plans for the medium and long term.
"2030 is becoming an important year, as the bill has as a goal reducing carbon emissions by at least 35 percent ― compared to 2018 levels ― by that time, as a mid-term goal," Han said. "A number of discussions and forums have taken place in order to draw up the bill for the past year. The government will continue carrying out discussions to seek public consensus on the issue in order to achieve its final goal."
The minister said that the bill also calls for drawing up appropriate measures to protect workers and industries that could suffer damage during the process of going carbon neutral, such as the coal mining and combustion engine car manufacturing industries.
On Aug. 19, the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee endorsed the bill, about 10 months after President Moon Jae-in declared the 2050 carbon neutrality goal.
The bill, however, was endorsed unilaterally by liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers, as some opposition lawmakers walked out of a heated session claiming that the target of reducing carbon emissions by only 35 percent was insufficient considering international standards.
For example, the minor opposition Justice Party, together with civic groups dedicated to the environment, demanded that the bill seek to cut emissions in 2030 by 50 percent from 2010 levels.
Rep. Kim Woong of the conservative main opposition People Power Party wrote on Facebook, "The bill will not be able to respond to climate change, but rather, will only use up the budget."
Regarding the criticism, Minister Han said that the 35 percent target represents the minimum of the country's nationally determined contributions (NDC) target range for 2030, in order to participate in the global initiative to go carbon neutral.
"Suggesting a lower limit is meaningful in that we expressed our willingness to go carbon neutral anyway, and the bill also includes comments calling on the government to consider a higher 40 percent target," Han said. "Members of the presidential committee on carbon neutrality will continue their discussions. I look forward to the committee's proposal on the final goal we should seek by 2030."
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