Audit shows Moon gov't's greenhouse gas reduction goal lacks sufficient verification

greenhouse gas reduction-audit

Audit shows Moon gov't's greenhouse gas reduction goal lacks sufficient verification

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Yonhap) -- The state audit agency said Tuesday that the greenhouse gas reduction goal declared by the previous Moon Jae-in administration lacked sufficient verification.

In 2021, the government significantly revised its national greenhouse gas reduction target, known as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), from the earlier 26.3 percent to 40 percent by 2030.

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) emphasized the importance of determining such goals on objective grounds, considering the complexity of lowering the target in national projects later.

Additionally, the BAI highlighted the necessity of establishing realistic goals, considering the involvement of judicial processes and the impact on the government budget.

Furthermore, the BAI raised concerns that the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center under the environment ministry formulated the goal without involving experts during data collection, a departure from the approach taken for previous NDC goals.

The 2021 goal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent compared to the national output level in 2018, aligning with the broader objective of the Moon government to gradually phase out conventional resources and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved