South Korea has announced a plan to require a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles by 2030. The policy shifts from a voluntary system to mandatory compliance, targeting a drop in transport emissions from 98 million metric tons in 2018 to 61 million metric tons. This move aligns with the country's mid-term national climate goals and includes enforcement through fines for non-compliance. The mandate covers trucks, vans, and buses, pushing manufacturers toward electric and hydrogen powertrains. It follows similar regulatory trends in the EU and US, where heavy-duty vehicle emissions are under increasing scrutiny. The policy is part of South Korea's broader effort to meet its 2050 net-zero target, though the central bank has warned that the transition could reduce annual economic growth by 0.6 percentage points over three decades.
