South Korean farmers are suing KEPCO and five state-backed power generators over crop losses linked to extreme weather. Court filings show the companies arguing that climate change is not environmental pollution, that their emissions are too small relative to global totals, and that warming has expanded farmland northward. The farmers say heat waves, droughts, and heavy rain have made their livelihoods difficult to sustain. The companies reported cumulative emissions of about 2.56 billion tons between 2011 and 2023, roughly 27 percent of the national total in that period. They also argued that renewable energy expansion brings grid integration costs and higher electricity rates, and that the government, not the companies, decides whether coal plants run. Internal board minutes reportedly show the generators considered delaying coal retirements. The case matters because it tests whether large emitters can be held liable for climate damage. It also exposes the gap between public carbon neutrality commitments and legal defense strategy. If the companies win on causation arguments, it could shape how other climate lawsuits treat emissions responsibility.
