South Korea’s Gyeongbuk Province has entered into a landmark agreement with Mongolia to jointly advance carbon reduction projects under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 mechanism. The move marks the first time a South Korean local government has become directly involved in an international carbon cooperation framework.
Mongolian landscape with young trees, wind turbines, and Mörön city in the distance. AI generated picture.
According to South Korea’s national news agency, Gyeongbuk’s provincial government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mongolian ministries to develop initiatives that will generate Internationally Transferable Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs)—carbon credits that can be exchanged between countries to meet environmental targets.
‘Through this agreement, companies in Gyeongbuk will be able to carry out carbon reduction projects such as renewable energy, forest restoration, and energy efficiency (in Mongolia)’, the report stated. The resulting natural benefits from these projects will contribute to South Korea’s emission reduction performance.
The collaboration builds on an earlier national-level MoU signed between the two countries in May, which enabled South Korea to earn ITMOs by funding Mongolia’s efforts to insulate traditional tents, known as gers or yurts, and replace coal-burning stoves. That initiative aimed to curb greenhouse gas emissions while improving local air quality.
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‘With this agreement, we plan to further expand our relationship’, said a Gyeongbuk provincial government official, highlighting the growing partnership between the two nations.
Under the new MoU, South Korean companies are expected to assist in converting a coal power plant near Mörön into a cleaner facility and help modernise Ulaanbaatar’s public transport system to reduce emissions. However, the agreement did not specify the expected ITMO volumes, the distribution of resulting credits, or their pricing.
South Korea aims to secure 37.5 million overseas carbon credits to meet its commitment under the Paris Agreement: cutting emissions by 40%—to 436.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from 2018 levels—and progressing toward net-zero by 2050.
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As nations expand cooperation through Article 6 frameworks like the South Korea–Mongolia partnership, the momentum toward transparent and verifiable carbon reduction is accelerating. The future of environmental action lies in projects that merge innovation with tangible restoration—initiatives that not only meet compliance goals but also heal ecosystems and strengthen local livelihoods. At Green Earth, we bring this future to life through large-scale reforestation and biodiversity projects that generate trusted carbon removals and measurable community benefits. For organisations seeking to lead in this new era of credible carbon solutions, now is the time to take the next step.
