South Korea, Asia's fourth largest economy, has committed to selecting one of three targets for carbon emissions by 2020, aligning itself with Kyoto signatories in the fight against climate change. The government announced on Tuesday that it will decide on a 2020 gas emission goal this year, with options including an 8 percent increase from 2005 levels, remaining unchanged from 2005, or decreasing by 4 percent from 2005 levels. Despite being one of Asia's wealthiest nations and a major industrial player, South Korea saw a significant increase in emissions between 1990 and 2005. Per-capita emissions of carbon dioxide in 2005 were 11.1 tonnes, ranking the country 17th among OECD members. Sang-hyup Kim, Secretary to the President for National Future and Vision at the Presidential Office, acknowledged that the targets may appear modest compared to those of developed countries. The efforts made by Korea are sincere and at their maximum, showcasing the country's capabilities. The government has estimated that each target will cost between 0.3 and 0.5 percent of GDP and will involve the use of hybrid cars, renewable and nuclear energy, energy efficiency with light-emitting diodes, and smart grids to reduce emissions. Developed nations, obligated by the Kyoto Protocol to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, are facing pressure from developing countries to increase their emission reduction targets as part of a larger climate agreement being negotiated. These discussions will conclude at a major UN conference in Copenhagen at the end of the year. Wealthy developing countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Mexico are also being pushed to announce their plans to reduce emissions. South Korea's goals are relatively small when compared to those of developed nations like the United States and the European Union. Japan and the United States are targeting reductions of 15 and 17 percent by 2020, respectively, from 2005 levels. The European Union and Britain are aiming for reductions of 20 and 34 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. China and other developing countries are calling for developed nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent by 2020 in order to prevent severe consequences of global warming such as droughts, floods, and rising sea levels.