The President presided over a Cabinet meeting today and conclusively set Korea’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target. According to this goal, the country will be committed to cutting carbon emissions by 30 percent from its business-as-usual (BAU) level forecast for 2020. This ambitious target is the highest level among three alternative scenarios outlined thus far.

President Lee told the meeting, “Today’s Cabinet meeting is a historic one. Korea’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target set today can be evaluated as a paradigm shift toward becoming an advanced country. The Republic of Korea should promote global awareness in this era. From this perspective, it is significant that the Cabinet discussed and passed the greenhouse gas reduction target with a global outlook.”

President Lee continued saying, “I would like to extend my appreciation to the government officials as well as representatives from the private sector and NGOs for the ambitious plan that has been achieved on the basis of heightened awareness about the significance of the environment. In the years to come, we all have to mull over how to better promote the national interest by cutting emissions of greenhouse gases. Businesses are urged to give serious consideration to ways to enhance energy efficiency.”