Republic of Korea - August 2024

On 29 August, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled that the country’s planned measures for fighting climate change are unconstitutional because they violate the rights of future generations. The climate ruling is the first of its kind in Asia and follows a four-year legal battle, during which around 250 plaintiffs, including young climate activists and even some infants, challenged the 40 per cent emissions reduction goal set for 2030 as inadequate. The Court instructed the National Assembly to amend the Carbon Neutral Act by February 2026 and expand its carbon-reduction targets for 2031 and beyond, recognizing that current emission targets are insufficient. The government responded favourably to the ruling and pledged to take follow-up measures. Climate activists celebrated the decision as a landmark victory that has the potential to trigger a domino effect across the region.  

Sources: The New York Times, Reuters, The Korea Times, International IDEA