Press Release

Board View

The Ministry of Environment to Implement Climate Change Impact Assessments to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

▷ The Ministry of Environment will apply preliminary climate change and adaptation response assessments to national plans and development projects


Sejong, September 26 - The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) will implement the climate change impact assessment in national plans and development projects from September 25. In the Framework Act On Carbon Neutrality And Green Growth For Coping With Climate Crisis (the Carbon Neutrality Act), enacted on September 24, 2021, the climate change impact assessment was introduced as an institutional measure to respond to the climate crisis. The assessment will take effect from September 25, 2022, after a one-year grace period. The climate change impact assessment intends to have national plans or large development projects undergo preliminary assessments on their impact on climate change, inducing adaptation to the climate crisis and lowering greenhouse gases.


Those national plans or development projects in ten fields emitting massive amounts of greenhouse gases and are vulnerable to the climate crisis are subject to a strategic or environmental impact assessment. The ten areas include energy development, construction of industrial sites and complexes, urban development, water resource development, port construction, development of the mountainous regions, use and development of rivers, road construction, airport construction, and installation of animal waste treatment facilities. Among those ten areas, environmental impact assessment for road construction, airport construction, and installation of animal waste treatment facilities will begin on September 25, 2023. Climate Change Impact Assessment will begin to apply to cases where a preparatory statement for assessment is prepared pursuant to the applicability stipulated under Article 4 of the Addenda of the Carbon Neutrality Act.


The planning agency or business entities of the climate change impact assessment is required to assess the relevant plan and project in advance in terms of greenhouse gas reduction or adaptation to the climate crisis. As for GHG reduction, the reduction target must be established considering the estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions, mid- to long-term reduction target, and technology level. To achieve the reduction target, the planning agency or business entities of the climate change impact assessment should establish a greenhouse reduction target for each sector, including industries, buildings, transportation, power generation, and waste. Reduction measures for each sector include using renewable energy, such as hydrothermal energy, wastewater reuse, construction of zero-carbon buildings, and utilization of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). In terms of adaptation, the planning agency or business entities of the climate change impact assessment should identify key climate change factors, such as heat waves, floods, and rising sea levels. Then, they should establish optimal adaptation measures, considering mid- to long-term projections of climate change and national and local plans for the adaptation. Optimal adaptation measures may include minimizing impervious surfaces to prevent urban inundation caused by climate change-related rainfalls and installing rainwater storage facilities.


The Ministry of Environment plans to supervise the assessment using the same procedure as environmental impact assessments but conduct a specialized review on the climate sector. When the planning agency or business entities of the assessment request the environment ministry's consultation for the environmental impact assessment, they should request for review of the climate change impact assessment with the Ministry of Environment (or regional environment offices). The ministry and a specialized institution in climate will give feedback within the consultation period for the assessment after reviewing the feasibility of the reduction targets, reduction, and adaptation measures. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment plans to communicate continuously with the stakeholders. At the same time, the ministry will find the best practices for the climate change impact assessment and distribute guidelines for the assessment's smooth settlement. 


Ahn Se-chang, Director-General of Climate Change and International Cooperation Bureau, said, "the climate change impact assessment will make the planning agencies or business entities plan for greenhouse gas reduction and adaptation to the climate crisis before implementing plans or projects." He added, "The Ministry of Environment will further develop the climate change impact assessment to help stakeholders find the optimal way for responding to climate change."



Contact: Yoon Nam-woong, Deputy Director

Carbon Neutrality Implementation TF / +82-(0)44-201-6978


Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr