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Court orders South Korea to specify plans to cut carbon emissions through 2049
People hold signs during the press conference outside of the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, August 29, 2024

SOUTH KOREA’S Constitutional Court ordered the government to back its climate goals today with more concrete plans for action through 2049 in a victory for campaigners.

The court, which weighs the constitutionality of laws, issued the assessment while ruling on four climate cases raised by 255 plaintiffs, including many who were children or teenagers when their complaints were filed against the government in 2020.

“Today’s ruling confirms that climate change is an issue related to our fundamental rights and everyone has a right to be safe from climate change,” Sejong Youn, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, said.

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