"Korea's Efforts in Achieving Carbon Neutral Society", presented by Ms Rywon Yang (Green Technology Center Korea) at the 2022 ProSPER.Net Leadership Programme, 6 December, 2022.

2. 1. Introduction

3. Green Technology Center Korea
3
To promote the advancement of the national climate
industry and contribute to the global efforts in responding
to climate change by establishing Green Climate
Technology policies and assisting domestic and
international climate technology cooperation
Mission
A leading think tank for inclusive and innovative global
growth responding to climate change
Vision

4. Green Technology Center Korea
4
“Republic of Korea will support developing
countries to secure climate technologies
through the Green Technology Center Korea.”
• Establishment of the Green Technology Center affiliated
with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Korea’shub for climate technologycooperationwith partnercountries

5. GTC’s Climate Technology Cooperation Framework
5
Based on the Climate Technology Cooperation Framework,
GTC supports our partner countries from tech. demand identification to funding mobilization.

6. GTC’s role under the UNFCCC
6
Conference of Parties
Delivery Partner
Designated Entity for
Climate Tech. Cooperation
Accredited Entity
LinkagebetweenTechnologyand FinancialMechanism

7. GTC’s global cooperation
7

8. 2. Korea’s Institutional Framework for Carbon Neutrality

9. Background of Carbon Neutrality Agenda in Korea

10. 10
What is Carbon Neutrality ?
“a state where greenhouse gas emissions emitted,
released, or leaked out into the atmosphere become
net-zero as they are offset by greenhouse gas
absorption elsewhere”
"carbon neutral society" means a society in which
people lower or eliminate dependence on fossil fuels and
lay the foundation for finance, technology, system, etc. for
adaptation to climate crisis and just transition
to smoothly achieve carbon neutrality and prevent and
minimize damage and adverse effects that may arise in
the process”

11. 11
Key milestones in shaping Carbon Neutrality Agenda in Korea
• Recovery package to tackle the
economic crisis and social inequality in
the face of the alarming situation posed
by the climate crisis and economic
recession caused by COVID-19 (approx.
137 billion USD)
• Mentioning carbon neutrality for the
first time as a policy target
• Submission of Intended Nationally
Determined Contribution(INDC) in 2015
• Updated Roadmap to achieve the
National GHG emission reduction target
in 2018
• Submission of the Korea’s “Long-
Term Low Emissions Development
Strategy(LT-LEDS)” to the UNFCCC
• 14th country to legislate carbon
neutrality worldwide
• Green growth concept
first emerged as a national
agenda

12. Carbon Neutrality Act

13. 13
Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth
for coping with climate crisis (Carbon Neutrality Act)
Overall
Key Pillars
Foundation
National Vision
Mitigation Adaptation Just Transition Green Growth
Implementation of Carbon neutrality & Green Growth(local, green life, produce/consumption, etc.)
Climate Response Fund
• Green Economy
• Green Industry
• Green Management
• Green Technology
• Taxation
• Green Financing
• IT
• Circular Economy
• Climate change impact
Carbon budgeting
• Emission trading, GHG
target control
• Carbon neutral city
• Local energy transition
• building/transport
• Carbon sink, CCUS
• International mitigation
• Information
• Climate change impact
Carbon budgeting
• Climate crisis adaptation
measures
• Local climate crisis response
• Water management
• Green land
• Transition of Agriculture,
forestry, fishery
• Adaptation center
• Social protection
• Special district
• Business transition
• Risk minimization
• Activation of Cooperatives
• Support center
National Strategy on Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth National
Mid- and Long-term GHG Reduction Target
National Framework Plan for Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth

14. 14
What has changed from the previous act?
Adoption 2009 2021
Objective
(Art. 1)
“promote the development of the national
economy by laying the foundation necessary for
low carbon, green growth and by utilizing green
technology and green industries as new growth
engines
“reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change
to prevent serious impacts of the climate crisis, to
resolve economic, environmental, and social disparity
that may arise in the course of the transition to a
carbon-neutral society, and to foster, promote, and
revitalize green technology and green industry.”
Decision
making body
(Art 15.)
Green Growth Committee Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth Committee
Reduction
Targets
(Art. 8)
No specific target
• Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050
• Reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 35%
from the 2018 levels by 2030
Other policy
measures
• Key principles in climate change/ energy policy
• Introduction of Cap-and-Trade System
• Climate change Impact Assessment
• Establishment of Integrated Information
Management System for GHG
• Strengthened Climate Change Impact Assessment
• Introduction of GHG Reduction Cognitive Budget
System
• Just transition
• Facilitate financing to address the climate crisis

15. 15
Statutory plans of the Carbon Neutrality Act
Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth (FACNGG)
National Framework Plan for Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth (Art. 10)
National Strategy on Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth (Art. 7) National Mid- and Long-term GHG Reduction Target (Art. 8)
National Vision
• Formulate a national strategy to achieve national vision
(policy objectives, sectoral strategies, etc)
• Re-examine every five years
• Deliberation of the Committee
• to reduce GHG emission by a ratio to the extent of not less
than 35 percent from the 2018 levels by 2030
• Re-examine every five years
• Set sectoral reduction target (industries, buildings,
transportation, pw generation and wastes)
• Set annual GHG reduction targets
• Formulate a 20-year national framework plan every five years
• Sectoral and annual measures to attain the mid-and long-term reduction targets
• Matters regarding adaptive measures, just transition, green growth, international
negotiation and cooperation, cooperation btw state and local gov
for transition to a carbon-neutral society and promotion of
harmonious development of economy and environment

16. 16
Carbon Neutrality Act and Relevant Laws & statutory plans
Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality & Green Growth
ETS allocation Plan
Act on the allocation and
trading of GHG emission
permits
Energy Act
Energy Transport Land & Building Carbon sink
Technology Emission Trading
Clean Air Conservation
Act
Act on Promotion of
Development and
Distribution of
Environment-friendly
Motor vehicles
Green Buildings
Construction Support
Act
Act on Promotion of
Climate Change
Technology Development
CCUS Act (in progress)
Hydrogen Economy
Promotion and Hydrogen
Safety Management Act
Act on the Management
and Improvement of
Carbon Sink
Climate Change impact
assessment
Environmental Impact
Assessment Act
Energy Use
Rationalization Act
Energy Use
Rationalization Act
Electric Utility Act
Smart Grid Construction
and Utilization
Promotion Act
Water
Water Environment
Conservation Act
Finance
National GHG
Management System
M
E
A
N
S
S
E
C
T
O
R
National Finance Act
National Land Act
Agriculture
Act on Agriculture, Rural,
Food Industry
Waste
Framework Act on
Circular Economy
Sustainable
Development
Sustainable
Development Act

17. GHG Emission Management

18. 18
GHG emission reduction targets
“The enhanced update of the first NDC of the Republic of Korea is set at the most ambitious level
possible to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 despite the country’s manufacturing-oriented
industry structure”
Updated NDC (2021.10)
• Target officially enshrined in the Act
• reduce total national GHG emissions by
40% from the 2018 level, which is 727.6
MtCO2eq, by 2030.
• Yearly average reduction rate is
4.17%/year, which is higher than other
developed countries.
• EU : 1.98 %
• US: 2.81 %
• UK 2.81 %
• Japan 3.56 %
Emission (million ton) PEAK
Old NDC
Updated NDC

19. 19
GHG Target Management System
The government designates entities that emit GHG in excess of the standard amount and sets
and controls a GHG reduction target to be attained within the prescribed timeframe.
Setting the target
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Sectoral Mitigation Target
Allowance per industry
Allowance per controlled emitter
Adjustment of the GHG reduction target
Notification to the controlled emitters on their
GHG reduction target
Setting National Mitigation Target
• First started in 2010
• As of June 2202, there are in total 360
controlled entities under responsible agencies
• MOTIE: 177
• MOLIT: 80
• MAFRA: 25
• MOE : 69
• MOF: 9
• Standards for designation of controlled
entities
Overview
Business entity Place of business
GHG emission
(CO2teq)
50,000 15,000

20. 20
GHG Emission Trading Scheme
GHG Emission Trading Scheme covers 70% of national GHG emissions. Certified emission has
reduced between the year 2019-2020, which shows that the emission trading scheme is effective.
GHG Emission Trading Scheme Certified GHG emission (2019-2020)
Emission
Permit Emission
actually
produced
Remaining
Emission
Permit
Emission
Permit
Emission
actually
produced
Remaining
Emission
Permit
sell
buy
Company A
Emission permit > produced emission
Company B
Emission permit < produced emission
Emission
permit
Certified
emission
Million ton

21. 21
National GHG Management System
• Overall management of
national GHG inventory
• National GHG information
management
• Systematic support for setting
GHG reduction targets

22. Newly introduced features

23. 10 Subject areas
23
Climate Change Impact Assessment
In case of implementation of a plan or project which emits a massive amount of GHG, analysis
and assessment of climate change impact is mandatory (Art. 23)
Energy Development Industrial complex
City Development
Water resource
development
Harbor construction Mountain development
River use and
development
Road construction
Airport construction
Waste, livestock
excretions
management facility
Measures
• Mitigation
• Set mitigation target considering GHG emission
projection, Mid-, long-term reduction target, and
technology level
• Need to submit response measures
• Hydrothermal energy, reuse of wastewater,
carbon zero building, CCUS
• Adaptation
• Need to set up adaptation plans considering climate
change scenario, national/regional level adaptation
plans, and by identifying climate risks such as heat
wave, flood, sea level rise
• Rainwater harvesting, minimizing impermeable
area

24. 24
GHG Reduction Cognitive Budget System
Analyze the impacts of budget and fund have on climate change and reflect the analysis
results in the financial operation of the State and local governments
Process and effect Implementation Arrangement
Project with high
mitigation impact
Project with low
mitigation impact
Increase financial
investment
Change
the project plan
Enhance contribution level of
national finance in GHG reduction
Ministry of Finance
and Economy
Responsible agency
Ministry of
Environment
Cooperation agency
Operation of the system Education/support
Discussion on
draft standards
Template of budgetary
sheet, balance sheet
Submission of budgetary
sheet, balance sheet
Korea Environment
cooperation
Specialized agency
Relevant Ministries
Project Division
Draftbudgetarysheet,
balancesheet
Planning & Finance
Division
Overall management
Submission

25. Just transition
Identify social groups vulnerable to climate crisis and regions and industries where socio-
economic discrimination is being aggravated and prepare support measures to alleviate such
status and measures to strengthen the capability to prepare for disasters
25
Designation of Special
District for Just Transition
Establishment of Just
Conversion Support Center
Support for Business
Conversion
• Employment security,
R&D, support for export
• Help reemployment
• Fostering new
industries and attract
investment
• Research and support on
job conversion model,
economy transition
measures
• Education and training
for conversion of jobs
• Support business conversion
of the companies in GHG
intensive sector to green
industry (information,
consulting, funding, etc.)

26. 26
Climate Response Fund
Government has established the Climate Response Fund of amount of 2.4 trillion KRW as an
effective financing program to address climate crisis and support transition to carbon neutral
society
Green innovative company support
Circular economy cluster
Green technology capacity building
Green policy financing
Support GHG reduction facility establishment
Clean fuel transition
City ecosystem restauration
Carbon sink at national parks
Environmental technology R&D
CCS demonstration & CCU commercialization
Carbon neutral green city
Regional carbon neutral support center

27. Sectoral approaches – Mitigation & Adaptation

28. 28
• Support local energy planning
• Energy transition model
development and deployment
• Policy on public acceptance
Green Buildings
• Set and manage a mid- and long-
term target and a periodic target to
reduce energy consumption and
GHG by the buildings
• Energy Conservation program
• Green Remodeling
Green Transport
• Set the efficiency standards for
average energy consumption for
motor vehicles
• Set the annual deployment targets of
eco-friendly vehicles and ships
• Designate carbon neutral city
• Reduce GHG, increase energy
independency level
• Increase Carbon sink
• Circular economy
Local energy Transition Carbon Sink
• Policy development to increase
carbon sink
International Mitigation
• Mitigation through ITMO
Carbon neutral city
1 2 3
4 5
6
Sectoral approach - Mitigation
CCUS Technology Development
• formulate policy measures to
support the development of CCUS
technology
7

29. 29
• Adopt policies to
• Secure water resources
• Water ecosystem conservation
• maintenance of water circulation system
• Eco-friendly conservation and restoration
of rivers
Monitoring and Projection of
Climate Crisis
• Establish and operate a meteorological data
management system
• Establish and operate a climate crisis
adaptation data management system to
investigate and assess the impacts of climate
crisis
National & Regional Climate Crisis
Adaptation Measures
• Adoption of National Climate Crisis
Adaptation Measures and regional
adaptation measures for climate crisis
every 5 years
• Formulate and implement measures for
adaptation of the public institutions with
facilities vulnerable to climate crisis every
five years
Water Management for Coping with
Climate Crisis
Promotion of Conversion of
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
• Adopt policies to
• Conversion of the structure of agriculture,
forestry and fisheries
• Development of technologies, equipment
and materials to reduce GHG emissions
Management of Green Homeland
• Comprehensive national and local land
plans
• Policies to reduce GHG emissions
reduction from cities and agricultural and
fishing villages
Public Institutions’ Adaptation
Measures for Climate Crisis
1 2 3
4 5 6
Sectoral approach - Adaptation

30. 6
Case : Carbon Neutrality Roadmap – MOLIT
Building sector
Reducing 32.8% of emissions by
2030 compared to 2018 emission
level
transport sector
Reducing 37.8% of
emissions by 2030
compared to 2018
emission level
Land/City sector
Establish carbon neutral
space based on statistics
Lifecycle performance of
building information system Zero energy building Green remodeling
Transport data mgmt
EV transition of
commercial vehicle
Public transport
Eco-friendly railway
& airplane
Carbon data system Mainstream carbon
neutrality in city planning
establish carbon neutral
space

31. 31
Case : R&D for Carbon Neural technology – MSIT
Identified 10 Key technology sectors* for carbon neutral technology innovation and set up strategy
for R&D
*Solar & Wind, Hydrogen, Bioenergy, Steel & Cement, Petrochemistry, Industrial process, transport, building, Digitalization ,
CCUS

32. 3. National Coordination

33. 33
Implementation scheme at central level
Central
Level
Request for support in
adopting the framework plan
• Support CNC adoption and
implementation of National
Framework plan on carbon
neutrality
Provide sectoral support in
adopting framework plan
Energy, Industry,
transport
Transport, Building,
Industry
Finance
Water, Public sector
Forestry
Technology
Development
Agriculture, Livestock
Fisheries, Ocean
• Support adoption and
implementation of National
Framework plan on carbon
neutrality at sector level
• Inform CNC any revision of
law or plan affecting
National vision
Submit draft plans
Give deliberation
on the plans
• Make decision on Carbon
neutrality related matters
• Give deliberation on related
plans

34. 34
Local governments’ role and responsibilities
• qualitatively and quantitatively
inspect the implementation
progress and major achievements of
the 10-year Framework plan every
year
• formulate and implement “Regional
climate crisis adaptation response
plan” under their respective
jurisdictions every five years
Local governments need to formulate and implement a 10-year City/Do/Si/Gun/Gu master plan for
carbon neutrality and green growth every five years

35. 35
Implementation scheme at local level
Local
Level
Submit the plans &
annual progress report
• Adopt plans :
• Local level Framework
plan on carbon neutrality
• Regional climate crisis
adaptation response plan
• Conduct annual progress
review
• Inform CNC any revision of
ordinance or plan affecting
National vision
Submit plans
Submit the plans, progress report for
deliberation
• Make deliberation of the
plans
• Review annual progress
report
• Review any revision of
ordinance or admin plan
Provide
administrative &
financial support to
the local governments
to implement carbon
neutrality policies
Central
Level
Report any revision of
ordinance or admin plans

36. 36
Key takeaways from Korea’s experience
Strengthening climate change response by introducing new measures such as
“climate change impact assessment” & “GHG Reduction Cognitive Budget System”
Setting up a legal backbone to make the transition towards Carbon Neutral Society
by streamlining different Statutory plans
Streamline national and local level implementation scheme with clear R&R
Legally binding goal statement on Carbon neutrality and GHG reduction target
Introducing the concept of “Just transition” as a key pillar

37. Thank you for your attention.
Rywon YANG
rymayang@gtck.re.kr