2023: 2030 Methane Emissions Reduction Roadmap

Policy Overview

The government of the Republic of Korea announced a methane emissions reduction roadmap in November 2023, which included a reduction target for methane emissions of 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. The roadmap proposed specific methane emission reduction targets for the energy (22.7%), agriculture (34.2%) and waste (49%) sectors by 2030. Specific actions to achieve these reduction targets were also listed in the roadmap. For the energy sector, actions included reducing fossil fuel use, reducing overall energy use and periodically formulating the ‘Fugitive Emissions Management Plan’. It also announced the aim of the government to produce 50 tons of clean methanol in the country by 2030. For agriculture, proposed actions included enhanced deployment of low-methane feed to 30% by 2030, systematic rice field water management and increasing the livestock manure treatment rate from 13% to 25%. For the waste sector, it stated food waste reduction measures, methane capture in landfill and expanding biogasification.