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Prime Minister Kim Min-seok speaks during the second “3+Alpha” meeting at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on November 2. / Source: Yonhap News

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said on November 2 that South Korea will submit its 2035 national greenhouse gas reduction target (NDC) to the United Nations by the end of this year.

Kim presided over the second “3+Alpha” meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where top government officials discussed ways to establish the midterm emissions target.

Participants included Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-chul, Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Land Minister Kim Yoon-duk, and Cabinet Office Chief Yoon Chang-ryul.

They discussed setting a “responsible and achievable” emissions reduction target, reflecting public input and the results of interagency consultations conducted over recent months.

Under the Paris Agreement, each participating nation is required to determine and submit its own updated NDC target to the UN by the end of this year.

So far, about 60 of the 195 signatories have completed submission. Since September 19, the Korean government has held six public forums to gather feedback and coordinate among ministries.

Following additional sectoral impact reviews, the government plans to hold a public hearing and deliberate on the final draft through the Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission. The final NDC will be confirmed after Cabinet approval.