hankyoreh

where he pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from standard levels by 2020.

Controversy has come up after revelations that the South Korean government is weighing plans to set Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) from 2020 onward that would reverse previous pledges on greenhouse gas reductions.

The INDC values for greenhouse gas emission reduction are slated for submission to the United Nations later this month.

According to news reports on June 3, the administration’s task force for climate change response, led by the Prime Minister’s Office, is considering a plan that would set a lower target in its greenhouse gas reduction plan for the target year of 2030, scaling its level down from the one Seoul previously pledged to the international community.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not deny the claim, adding that the decision “was not definite yet.”

Environmental groups were up in arms over what they called an “admission that South Korea is a rogue state on climate issues.”

In 2009, the administration of then-President Lee Myung-bak (2008-2013) pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from standard levels by 2020. The pledge was based on a projection of 776.1 million tons of CO2 equivalent, which would require emissions of no more than 543 million tons that year, or 233.1 million tons less than the projected level.

If the administration does raise its 2020 emissions projection in order to set a higher reduction target for 2030, it would also increase the total amount of allowable emissions for 2020, which would violate the previous pledge to the international community.

“The administration‘s plan disregards the international community’s agreement on the principle that there is no backtracking on emissions targets, and would turn South Korea into a rogue state,” said the groups Korea Environment Council and Citizens’ Energy Council at a press conference on June 3 in front of the Central Government Complex in Seoul.

“We need to submit targets that are acceptable to the international community,” the groups said.

By Kim Jeong-su, senior staff writer

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]