The global community, including the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and C40, is currently making an effort to constrain global warming below an increase of 1.5℃ compared to the preindustrial level. According to climate scenarios, every country and city should achieve carbon neutrality (or net-zero emissions) by at least 2050 in order to meet the temperature target. Considering the importance of cities in terms of the levels of emissions and population exposure, city governments should take the initiative to reduce carbon emissions, rather than act as late movers. Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) takes part in global efforts to achieve the temperature target. Citizens of Seoul also agree with the global target and support local actions to avoid the adverse impacts of climate change. Further, citizens require SMG to take more stringent actions to address climate change.

This report presents the long-term strategy and sectoral approaches of Seoul toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The city of Seoul will reduce its carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to the level of emissions in 2005, through the 5G strategy: green building, green transport, green energy, green cycle, and green forest. The remaining carbon will be offset by carbon credit programs to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The main policy measures in the building sector include a cap and trade program on greenhouse gas emissions and the zero emissions buildings regulation. The city of Seoul plans to strengthen the currently initiated (in 2019) urban access regulation (e.g., Seoul LEZ) to curb carbon emissions in the transportation sector. The registration of conventional vehicles with internal combustion engine will be prohibited by 2035, and no vehicles other than zero-emission vehicles will have access to the entire city by 2050. In the energy supply sector, SMG will provide most of its electricity consumption via new and renewable energy sources, including energy generated by solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells, by 2050. Most of the carbon emissions in the waste management sector can be reduced via the current regulation on direct landfill disposal by 2025. Such strong actions taken by Seoul benefit the global community, since they contribute to net-zero emissions by an appropriate timeline, which is required to tackle climate change.

Seoul citizens will also benefit from the carbon neutrality policy, since it helps improve the quality of life in general. The climate policy of Seoul is expected to contribute to a substantial reduction of urban air pollution as well as carbon emissions. A huge investment in sectoral measures, including renewable energy sources, green remodeling, zero-emissions vehicles, carbon offset programs, and re-and-up-cycling, is required to achieve the goal. However, such an investment will help promote the growth of related industrial sectors in Seoul, resulting in quality jobs and economic activities (a so-called ‘green new deal’). The strategy and approaches of Seoul also include equality aspects and governance issues, which are detailed in the report.