From this answer I see what's the definition of rem in the spec:
rem unit
Equal to the computed value of
font-sizeon the root element. When specified in thefont-sizeproperty of the root element, or in a document with no root element,1remis equal to the initial value of thefont-sizeproperty.
And the definition of em is:
em unit
Equal to the computed value of the
font-sizeproperty of the element on which it is used.
To me this implies that 1em == 1rem by definition when used at :root.
Am I correct?
Yes