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Senior Citizens v. Korea - press release

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Senior Citizens v. Korea - petition

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Senior Citizens v. Korea - decision

Filing Year For Action

123 elder citizens lodged complaints against the South Korean government to the National Human Rights Commission, claiming that its weak climate policies infringe upon their constitutional rights to life and the pursuit of happiness, particularly from the health impacts of climate change, including heat exposure and air pollution. The petitioners emphasize that the older population in Korea is vulnerable to climate issues during high poverty rates for senior citizens and that the country is the fastest-aging country in the world. The petitioners argue that South Korea's carbon neutrality roadmap is not aligned with the 1.5'C target and that the reduction pathway backloads the emission reduction.

On April 15, 2024, the Commission dismissed the petition, finding that the petition did not allege "specific individual harm" from the climate crisis, but instead called for broader policy and legislative improvements to protect senior citizens in general. Still, recognizing that increasingly severe climate impacts can threaten the right to life for the wider public, the Commission transferred the matter to its Social Rights Division for further review.

Separately, on December 12, 2024, the Commission issued a recommendation to the government calling for stronger protections for people who are especially vulnerable to the climate crisis. The recommendations include, among others: (i) clearly defining climate-vulnerable groups and the government’s duty to protect them under the Carbon Neutrality Act; (ii) incorporating concrete protection measures into the National Green Growth Basic Plan; (iii) conducting and publishing regular assessments of climate vulnerabilities; (iv) improving access to climate-related information; (v) expanding the permitted uses of the Climate Response Fund to support vulnerable groups; and (vi) ensuring their participation in climate-related policy-making.

Senior Citizens v. Korea

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

People who are less able to respond to the effects of climate change due to having limited financial or physical assets

Senior Citizens v. Korea - press release

Target

Risk

Impacted group

Greenhouse gas