Japan has announced a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by fiscal year 2035, compared to 2013 levels. However, climate activists argue the target falls short of what is needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C global warming goal.
Key Details
- The new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) also aims for a 73% reduction by 2040 and net zero by 2050.
- Japan remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, with nearly 70% of its power needs met by coal, gas, and oil in 2023.
- The new Strategic Energy Plan prioritizes renewables as the top power source by 2040, alongside nuclear power.
- Japan has dropped its previous pledge to “reduce reliance on nuclear power as much as possible”.
Criticism & Challenges
- 350.org’s Masayoshi Iyoda says Japan needs an 81% reduction by 2035 to stay aligned with the 1.5°C goal.
- Greenpeace Japan’s Kazue Suzuki calls for a 78% cut, citing Japan’s responsibility as an industrialized nation.
- Despite plans to increase renewables to 40-50% by 2040, Japan still relies on fossil fuel imports, costing $470 million per day.
Geopolitical Context
- The new plan removed references to a US-Japan clean energy partnership after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.
- Japan insists its “green transformation” will continue, despite Trump’s shift in policy.
The revised target signals progress, but critics argue Japan must accelerate its transition to renewable energy to meet global climate commitments.
