Net-zero emissions by 2050 for South Korea: Still possible, or a distant dream?

A "Korea not Coalrea" rally held in front of the South Korean Embassy in Jakarta on Oct 29, 2019. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DHEMAS REVIYANTO, TREND ASIA
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SEOUL - Hopes have been high for months that the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in would back grand plans by the ruling Democratic Party to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, becoming the first country in East Asia to pledge so.

But the first concrete details of the "Green New Deal" unveiled on Jun 1 were instead aimed at boosting economic recovery after the pandemic, with the government setting aside 12.9 trillion won to create 133,000 jobs by 2022, build eco-friendly infrastructure and expand renewable energy sources.

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