Japan aims to cut emissions by 46% by 2030 from 2013, Japan’s prime minister Yoshihide Suga announced before a virtual climate summit of 40 world leaders hosted by US.
It almost doubled its previous target of a 26% reduction from 2013 set in 2015. According to a Bloomberg report, Suga said Japan’s government would provide support to maximise “utilisation and investment in zero-carbon power sources such as renewables”, and he would instruct ministries to “accelerate considerations” on how to address the issue.
John Yeap of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “This strengthening of Japan’s nationally determined contributions appears to indicate the nation’s resolve to be a leading champion in the decarbonisation race against time. The response of the power sector will be a fundamental component to achieving the target, and we are already seeing some progress with green ammonia and possibly green hydrogen being introduced into the fuel mix. The growing offshore wind sector will also play an important role.”
According to Reuters, Japan had been under pressure from the Biden administration to set a 50% target. US has just set the new aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50%-52% below its 2005 emissions levels by 2030.
In March, Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP), a group of 174 companies called on Japan’s government to set a domestic emissions reduction target of 50% and above by 2030 from 2013 levels.
Suga in 2020 set Japan’s aim to become carbon-neutral by 2050 and put it on the same timeline within the European Union (EU).
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