South Korea’s Constitutional Court has made a groundbreaking decision to push the government to take more concrete actions to address climate change. In a partial victory for climate advocates, the court ordered the government to develop solid plans to achieve its climate goals through 2049. This decision comes after 254 plaintiffs, including numerous young people, raised concerns about the country’s insufficient efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
The plaintiffs argued that South Korea’s current target of cutting carbon emissions by 35% from 2018 levels by 2030 was not enough to combat the effects of climate change. They also criticized the lack of implementation plans beyond 2031, despite the country’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plaintiffs claimed that inadequate climate policies violated their rights by exposing them to potential environmental harm.
While the court did not mandate a more ambitious 2030 target, it did agree that the government needed to create plans for reducing emissions from 2031 to 2049. The government has until 2026 to modify its carbon neutrality law to include these plans. The ruling signals a significant step towards a more sustainable future for South Korea.
Stay tuned for updates on how South Korea’s government responds to this ruling and what it means for the country’s climate action moving forward.
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