People For Earth

On August 29, 2025, the 10th Climate Change Colloquium was held at the People for Earth in Seoul under the theme “Vision and Revision Tasks of the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality.” Hosted by the People for Earth Foundation, in cooperation with Sun Pro Bono Center and Plan 1.5, the event brought together leading legal scholars and practitioners to discuss critical legal and policy challenges related to the ongoing revision of Korea’s Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality.

The colloquium was particularly significant as it marked the first anniversary of the Constitutional Court’s ruling of unconstitutionality on the Act. Participants also assessed the relevance of the draft revision bills currently pending in the National Assembly by considering the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2025. The event was broadcast live through the People for Earth YouTube channel, allowing broader public engagement.

The colloquium was moderated by Professor Dongsuk Oh(Ajou University School of Law) and opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Wangbae Kim, Executive Director of People for Earth. The program then proceeded with three keynote presentations, followed by a panel discussion and an interactive Q&A session with general participants.

The first keynote was delivered by Professor Siwon Park(Kangwon National University School of Law), who analyzed the legal implications of setting greenhouse gas reduction targets. He emphasized the need to incorporate both the Constitutional Court’s ruling and robust scientific evidence into legislative revisions. In particular, he highlighted the importance of raising the 2030 and 2035 reduction targets and ensuring a strong governance framework to underpin their implementation.

The second keynote was presented by Dr. Hanna Park(Researcher, Institute for Legal Studies, Ewha Womans University), who underlined the importance of protecting climate-vulnerable groups, promoting a just transition, and expanding citizen participation. She proposed institutional reforms to strengthen these dimensions in the revised Act.

The third speaker, Professor Jaehong Lee(Ewha Womans University School of Law), critically examined the structure and operations of the Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission. He called for reforms to enhance both its expertise and democratic legitimacy.

In the panel discussion, the three keynote speakers were joined by: Attorney Kyunghoon Song(Jipyong LLC), Dr. Danbi Lim(Associate Research Fellow, Climate Change & ESG Law Team, Korea Legislation Research Institute), Attorney Duri Lim(Solutions for Our Climate), Attorney Hyunyoung Ji(Center for Energy & Environmental Law and Policy, Seoul National University), and Attorney Changmin Choi(Plan 1.5).

Key issues debated included the feasibility of introducing a carbon tax, transparency in the operation of the Climate Response Fund, domestic application of the ICJ advisory opinion, expanded avenues for public participation, and the establishment of an independent expert commission. Comparative lessons were also drawn from European countries’ emissions targets and governance frameworks.

Ultimately, the colloquium shed light on the core legal and policy challenges surrounding the revision of the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality. It reaffirmed the need to transform the Act from a declaratory framework into an effective, actionable system supported by strong governance and accountability.

• * Full video of the colloquium is available here.