Seoul has received the highest rating of A in the 2025 city climate crisis response evaluation announced by the world’s largest environmental assessment organization, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Seoul has maintained an A rating for four consecutive years since 2022, establishing itself as the only top-rated city in the country.
The CDP is an international environmental disclosure system linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), evaluating and annually disclosing the climate change response strategies and achievements of cities and companies worldwide. The 2025 assessment was conducted on 738 out of more than 1,000 cities that submitted climate environment information, with only 120 cities, including Seoul, New York, Tokyo, and London (about 16%), obtaining an A rating.
In Korea, 19 local governments participated in the evaluation, but only Seoul received an A rating. The CDP assigns grades based on a comprehensive evaluation of the entire process, including setting scientific greenhouse gas reduction targets, analyzing climate risks, establishing and implementing plans, and monitoring systems.
Seoul was highly evaluated for its long-term goals for reducing greenhouse gases, the effectiveness of its climate crisis response policies, and policies to protect energy-vulnerable populations. This achievement has allowed Seoul to be recognized once again on the international stage for the sustainability and results of its policies as a global climate leader city.
The importance of Seoul’s achievement in maintaining an A rating for four consecutive years is significant in terms of urban competitiveness. The Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies in Japan utilizes CDP’s climate change response evaluation data as a major indicator when assessing the Global Power City Index (GPCI).
The GPCI is a global urban competitiveness evaluation index composed of six areas: economy, research and development, cultural exchange, habitation, environment, and transportation accessibility. Seoul ranked sixth in the world in both 2024 and 2025, particularly improving six places from 17th to 11th in the environment sector. The CDP evaluation results are also analyzed to have positively influenced Seoul’s urban competitiveness.
The CDP’s city climate crisis response evaluation is divided into four stages from A to D, with an A rating being assigned only to cities that meet the highest level in all aspects such as greenhouse gas inventory establishment, setting reduction targets, execution plans, climate risk analysis, and adaptation strategy establishment.
Gwon Min, Head of Seoul’s Climate and Environment Headquarters, stated, “Receiving an A rating in global environmental evaluations for four consecutive years proves that Seoul’s climate policy is internationally trusted,” and added, “We will continue to realize a sustainable future through a fair carbon-neutral transition that citizens can feel.”
