EU-Republic of Korea: 6th Working Group on Energy, Environment and Climate takes place in Seoul

The sixth meeting of the EU-Republic of Korea Working Group on Energy, Environment and Climate took place on 10 October in Seoul, providing for an in-depth exchange of views on respective policies and the prospects for further bilateral cooperation through the EU-Republic of Korea Green Partnership.

The Working Group was established in 2018 under the Framework Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea. It constitutes a platform for deepened dialogue on energy, environmental and climate change issues in the context of the addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and accelerating the transition to a net zero and circular economy.

The discussions on energy focused on latest energy policy developments in both sides, global security of energy supply, and reduction of methane emissions from energy value chains. The EU and the Republic of Korea highlighted the importance to step up actions to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvement rate by 2030, which was agreed at COP28.

The session on environment focused on two major international environment events: Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP 16), and the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution (INC-5). The EU and the Republic of Korea stressed the importance of full implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and acknowledged the importance of ambitious negotiation conclusions of the INC-5, which will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November 2024. Strategies for tackling air pollution and safe management of hazardous chemicals stood up as another important issue to be considered. They also exchanged views on their respective policies on circular economy.

As regards the fight against climate change, the EU and the Republic of Korea stressed their strong intention to further deepen cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral settings. They exchanged views on the implementation of the 2030 NDC and the strategies to achieve them, preparation of new updated NDC, and discussed the outcome of COP28 and their cooperation in the run-up to COP 29 in Baku.

They agreed that the launch of the EU-ROK Green Partnership was a significant step forward that demonstrates joint commitment to achieve net zero by 2050. The EU and the Republic of Korea took stock of the activities implemented under the Green Partnership, including an event on 11 October on the respective preparations for the second NDCs and had an initial exchange of views on potential areas of future cooperation.

The EU delegation, which included representatives of the European Commission Directorates-General for Climate Action, Energy and Environment, was first led by the Deputy Managing Director Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service Paola Pampaloni, and then by Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez. The Republic of Korea delegation was led by the Director-General for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Scientific Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Han Minyoung.

The next meeting of the EU-Republic of Korea Working Group on Energy, Environment and Climate Change will be held in 2025 in Brussels.