South Korea’s Constitutional Court declared key provisions of the Carbon Neutrality Act unconstitutional on Aug. 29 due to inadequate long-term emission reduction targets. The court’s decision, the first of its kind in Asia, criticized the law for not setting specific goals beyond 2030, which it argued fails to meet the government’s constitutional duty to protect citizens, particularly future generations, from the impacts of climate change.

This ruling has significant implications for South Korea’s legislative framework, industries and alignment with global climate standards.

COURT DECISION

The Constitutional Court specifically criticized Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Act, for lacking clear greenhouse