The government has launched the 2nd Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Carbon Neutral Committee), which will serve as the control tower for carbon neutrality policies. The Committee held an inauguration ceremony at the Government Complex Seoul on February 24, presided over by Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, to begin its official activities.
The Carbon Neutral Committee is the successor to the 1st committee, which was established following the enactment of the Carbon Neutral Green Growth Basic Law in March 2022 and operated from October 2022 to February 2025. This new committee is tasked with planning and coordinating policies for achieving carbon neutrality and has been reorganized with enhanced expertise and representation. For this purpose, experts in future technologies such as hydrogen and artificial intelligence (AI) have been recruited, and the proportion of female and youth members has been increased. The percentage of female members has grown to 39%, and youth members now make up 8% of the committee. Additionally, representatives from various social sectors, including labor and agriculture, have been newly appointed to increase the committee’s representativeness.
Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok stated in his opening remarks that the government will actively pursue the realization of a carbon-neutral society in collaboration with the Carbon Neutral Committee. He emphasized a plan to secure energy security and enhance carbon competitiveness by expanding non-carbon energy sources, including renewable energy and nuclear power. Moreover, he highlighted the government’s commitment to establishing long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals and strategies and expanding investments in the development of climate technology.
During the meeting, several key agendas were discussed, including the ‘Core Tasks for the 2nd Carbon Neutral Committee’, ‘Establishment Progress and Plans for the 2035 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal (NDC)’, and ‘The National Climate Crisis Adaptation Plan’. The government reported on these agendas, and the committee approved them as proposed.
The Carbon Neutral Committee plans to focus on preparing a long-term vision for greenhouse gas reduction (2031–2049), establishing the 2035 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal (NDC), and devising a climate crisis adaptation strategy. Key policy tasks include accelerating energy transition through scientific and technological means, promoting the climate tech industry, expanding green finance support, and strengthening responses to global regulations, all while pursuing continuous innovation.
The 2035 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal (NDC) will be set based on international responsibilities and scientific grounds. Since March last year, the government has been discussing reduction scenarios with expert working groups. From this month, the government will prepare a proposal through inter-ministerial consultations and finalize the plan by September after a public consultation process to gather opinions from industries, civil society, labor, and future generations, before submitting it to the UN.
Additionally, the government plans to formulate the 4th National Climate Crisis Adaptation Plan (2026–2030) in response to the increasing frequency of abnormal climate events due to the materialization of climate crises. This comprehensive plan aims to stabilize lives and ensure safety by mitigating the price volatility of agricultural and fishery products and developing climate insurance products for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, measures will be taken to renovate social infrastructure to respond effectively to heat waves and floods, as well as introduce surveys of climate-vulnerable populations to pursue more effective policies.
The Carbon Neutral Committee is expected to enhance its function of policy coordination and management while increasing the effectiveness of policy implementation reviews. The government intends to strengthen collaboration towards realizing a carbon-neutral society by encouraging participation and cooperation among all social components, including government bodies, local governments, industries, and civil society.
As the 2nd Carbon Neutral Committee is launched, there is anticipation as to whether and how the government’s carbon neutrality policies can become more specific and yield substantial results.