Korea targets 61% emissions cut by 2035

November 11, 2025

South Korea has unveiled a bold new climate goal, approving plans to slash national greenhouse gas emissions by 53–61% from 2018 levels by 2035. The decision, confirmed during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, marks a crucial step toward achieving a carbon-neutral society and driving sustainable economic growth.

President Lee emphasized that the shift to carbon neutrality is not a matter of choice but a necessary direction for long-term national progress.

 “There may be debates over our NDC, but moving toward a carbon-neutral society is an unavoidable path if South Korea aims to sustain growth and advance as a leading global economy,” he stated during the meeting.

The updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035 slightly raises the government’s earlier proposal, which aimed to cut emissions by 50–60% or 53–60%. This strengthened target will be officially presented at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), currently taking place in Belem, Brazil, from November 11–21.

Under the Paris Agreement, all participating nations must submit and update their NDCs every five years, outlining concrete measures to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

South Korea’s previous NDC submission in 2021 pledged to lower emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. The new 2035 target reflects Seoul’s deepening commitment to climate action and a greener, more sustainable future.