Minister Sung-hwan Kim announces South Korea’s membership in the PPCA at COP30 in Brazil 

November 17, 2025 (BELÉM, SEOUL) – The South Korean government announced at COP30 that it will join the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). By making this announcement on the world’s largest climate stage, the new administration signaled that Korea can no longer remain tied to a coal-centered power system. Korea is now the second Asian country, after Singapore, to join the PPCA, demonstrating meaningful leadership in a region still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The government must now ensure that this moment becomes the starting point of a genuine coal phaseout, backed by concrete plans and effective policy implementation. 

The PPCA brings together over 180 countries, subnational governments, companies, and civil society organizations committed to ending coal power, an expectation that has already become an international norm. 62 countries, including the UK, US, and Mexico, participate at a national level. Phasing out coal, one of the largest sources of carbon emissions, is a fundamental step to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5°C. Already, 14 out of the 38 OECD member states operate coal-free power systems, and 13 more aim to fully phase out coal by 2030. In global financial markets, coal is widely viewed as a stranded asset; its economic rationale has long eroded. 

South Korea’s coal capacity reached 39.1 GW in 2023, the seventh largest in the world. Korea’s PPCA membership is particularly significant given because Singapore, the first Asian member, has no coal generation at all. In effect, Korea is the first Asian member whose participation will meaningfully reduce coal use. Until now, Korea was one of the only four OECD countries not part of the PPCA, and its accession now aligns the country with the global transition. Bahrain also joined the PPCA on the same day. 

For an export-driven economy like Korea, expanding its renewable energy base will make the country a more attractive investment destination. A global survey reveals that 97% of business leaders support moving away from fossil fuels, and 78% support rapid transition to renewable energy by 2035 or earlier. Accelerating coal phaseout is therefore essential not only for climate mitigation but also for strengthening diplomacy, energy security, and industrial competitiveness. 

Yet South Korea’s current coal phaseout trajectory remains far from sufficient. As of 2024, coal still accounts for nearly 30% of national power generation. The government’s current plan calls for retiring only 40 of the country’s 61 coal plants by 2040, with no closure timeline for the remaining 21. Meanwhile, new coal capacity continues to enter the system: Samcheok Blue Power Unit 2 began commercial operation in January this year. Samcheok Green Power continues to pursue coal and ammonia co-firing despite the government’s suspension of co-firing policy. Korea’s electricity market rules also compensate coal plants for losses and excessive capacity, subsidizing their prolonged operation. Such policies generate confusion for markets and industry instead of sending a clear signal to transition. 

While the administration pledged a “2040 coal phaseout”, the pace required to meet the Paris Agreement is considerably faster. Research by Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) and the University of Maryland finds that Korea must fully retire all coal power plants by 2035 to meet its own 2035 NDC upper-limit target of a 61% emissions reduction. 

Given these circumstances, Korea must treat its PPCA membership as the beginning of an accelerated coal phaseout. Countries that have successfully exited coal did so by establishing clear roadmaps after joining the PPCA, increasing costs of and tightening regulations on coal, and offering incentives for phased closure. Even at COP30, the host country Brazil is leading sector-specific decarbonization discussions through its Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) Roadmap. Korea should support such international efforts and, at home, embed early phaseout measures in the 12th Basic Power Supply Plan to be drafted next year. Strong policies including rapid renewable expansion and a just transition are key. 

It is crucial that Korea’s transition must not detour through gas. Methane leakage makes gas a major climate threat, and international price volatility undermines energy security. Korea’s coal phaseout pathway must lead directly to renewable energy. 

Korea’s PPCA announcement at COP30—where 56,000 participants from 190 countries gathered—sent an important signal to the world, especially to Asian countries that have yet to begin their own transitions. The task now is to deliver. Real implementation will reaffirm global commitment to the Paris Agreement at a time when the 1.5°C goal is in jeopardy. This will help safeguard Korea’s industrial competitiveness and export-driven economy in a world where carbon-free electricity is rapidly becoming a prerequisite. 

Quotes 

Katie White, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: “This is a critical point in the global transition away from coal, which is why it’s great to have the Republic of Korea and Bahrain on board with the PPCA – demonstrating true climate leadership. By taking this ambitious step, they can reap the rewards that we are seeing from our own clean energy transition, creating new jobs and driving economic growth.” 

Sung-hwan Kim, Minister of South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE): “By joining the PPCA, we are demonstrating the Republic of Korea’s commitment to accelerating a just and clean energy transition. Through the Alliance, we will kickstart our coal phase-out, as well as help the Alliance advance the coal transition worldwide. The shift from coal to clean power is not only essential for the climate. It will also help both the Republic of Korea, and all other countries increase our energy security, boost the competitiveness of our businesses, and create thousands of jobs in the industries of the future.” 

ENDS. 

Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) is an independent nonprofit organization that works to accelerate global greenhouse gas emissions reduction and energy transition. SFOC leverages research, litigation, community organizing, and strategic communications to deliver practical climate solutions and build movements for change.          

For media inquiries, please reach out to Antonette Tagnipez in Brazil at antonette.tagnipez@forourclimate.org or Yi Hyun Kim yihyun.kim@forourclimate.org.