South Korea Teams Up with Cambodia for Groundbreaking Electric Motorcycle Project

South Korea will collaborate with Cambodia to distribute electric motorcycles and charging stations in the Southeast Asian nation, marking Seoul’s first international carbon emission reduction project, the industry ministry announced Monday.

The initiative, aimed at slashing 680,000 tons of carbon emissions in Cambodia, is South Korea’s inaugural international carbon reduction effort established under the Paris Agreement, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The Cambodian government officially greenlit the project on Friday.

Under the Paris Agreement, a host country can sell internationally transferred mitigation outcomes, or carbon credits, to a buyer country in exchange for investments, support for carbon reduction capacity building, and access to related technologies.

Of the 680,000 tons of projected carbon reductions, carbon credits equivalent to 400,000 tons will be transferred to South Korea. These credits will contribute to the country’s nationally determined contribution for achieving carbon neutrality, the ministry explained.

South Korea has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The ministry also stated that Seoul plans to expand cooperation with Phnom Penh in the transportation sector to further reduce carbon emissions.

\”This project represents Korea’s first internationally approved carbon reduction initiative,\” a ministry official stated.

\”By combining Cambodia’s commitment to carbon reduction with the technological expertise and investment of Korean companies, this project has the potential to evolve into a mutually beneficial intergovernmental cooperation model for both nations.\” (Yonhap)