South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions dipped 0.9% year on year in 2025, driven by lower output across industrial and transport sectors, according to the country's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.

National greenhouse gas emissions were provisionally estimated at 685.7 million tonnes in 2025, compared with 691.8 million tonnes recorded a year earlier, the ministry said on September 20.

Emissions retreated in the industrial, transport, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and waste sectors, while the electricity, building and refrigerant segments posted emission increases.

Annual greenhouse gas emissions slipped below 700 million tonnes in 2024 for the first time since 2010, largely supported by a higher share of nuclear and renewable power generation.

Final national greenhouse gas emissions take roughly two years to complete; hence provisional estimates are released in advance. The gap between provisional and final readings normally ranges from 0.3% to 0.4%.

The South Korean government targets at least a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 versus 2018 levels. Baseline emissions stood at 742.3 million tonnes in 2018, implying emissions need to drop to 371.2 million tonnes or below by 2035 to hit the policy goal.