Climate activists contend such plans might conflict with the country’s pledges to help curb climate change and could lock South Korea into a fossil fuel-dependent future. Liberal South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who won a snap election in June last year, campaigned for stronger climate commitments. South Korea’s goal to cut carbon emissions by 53 to 61 percent of 2018 levels fell short of climate activists’ expectations. The South Korean government’s target was to cut that to 10.6 percent by 2038. The pledge to retire 40 of South Korea’s 61 coal sites by 2040 might be “an enforced transition” for coal exporters in the Asia-Pacific region, Global Renewables Alliance’s James Bowen said.

Source: Taipei Times December 31, 2025 16:34 UTC