Comparative analysis of carbon neutrality policies in Korea, China and Japan: Greenhouse gas monitoring network and mitigation strategies

Achieving carbon neutrality in response to climate change necessitates the establishment of a comprehensive system for integrated greenhouse gas (GHG) observation and verification capable of ensuring precise emission assessments and credible evaluation of policy effectiveness. Although South Korea, China, and Japan are geographically proximate, their climate governance trajectories have diverged due to differences in available energy resources, industrial structures, and political-economic systems. Nevertheless, all three countries share a common trend in advancing science-based GHG management using multi-platform atmospheric observation networks relying on satellite, airborne, and ground-based measurements. South Korea has been a relative latecomer to implementing empirically grounded GHG monitoring compared to China and Japan. However, South Korea’s proactive engagement in shaping international standards for urban GHG monitoring presents a timely opportunity to establish a robust and scalable national framework. This system will be extended to subnational and municipal levels, enhancing the scientific credibility and objectivity of local climate policy assessments and facilitating compliance with international reporting obligations. The Korean Greenhouse Gas Watch is envisioned as a core national infrastructure supporting mitigation, adaptation, and ex-post policy evaluation. Korea aims to simultaneously strengthen its observational capacity and foster sustained cooperation across East Asia through knowledge exchange and collaborative GHG governance.