A climate litigation group expressed concerns about the adequacy of the public deliberation process for the amendment of the Carbon Neutrality Basic Law during a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea.
The climate litigation group, which successfully advocated for changes to the Carbon Neutrality Basic Law, met with the National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-sik, to express their concerns regarding the public deliberation process currently underway for the law's amendment. They emphasized the importance of adhering to the Constitutional Court's decision that mandates the establishment of long-term national greenhouse gas reduction targets within the law. This meeting underscores the group's desire for accountability and thoroughness in how lawmakers engage with public input in light of the recent ruling.
The Constitutional Court's ruling in 2024, which responded to petitions from youth and civic organizations, declared that the existing law was unconstitutional for failing to set medium- to long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals. As a result, the National Assembly is now required to revise the law, outlining greenhouse gas reduction targets for the period between 2031 and 2049. The public deliberation process, initiated by the creation of a deliberative committee, involves representatives from various demographics, including 300 citizens aged 15 and older and a generation representative group consisting of those under 15, aimed at ensuring the voices of future generations are included in climate discussions.
The deliberation process is structured to allow for comprehensive consideration of key issues affecting climate action, with a schedule of workshops and public discussions planned throughout March and early April. However, the climate litigation group remains critical of the proposed timeline and methodology, suggesting that the current plans may not fully engage or reflect the breadth of public sentiment and scientific guidance necessary for meaningful reforms in climate legislation. This debate highlights the ongoing tensions between legislative protocols and the urgent need for comprehensive climate action, positioning South Korea's approach to climate policy under scrutiny as the world grapples with environmental crises.
