The government of Japan has approved new targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through 2040, along with a revised energy policy and an updated industrial plan. The measures, aimed at delivering long-term policy stability for the business world, focus on accelerating decarbonisation, protecting the stability of energy supply, and improving industry performance to facilitate economic growth as reported by Reuters.
Japan’s new climate plan aims for a 60% reduction in emissions by 2035 and 73% by 2040 towards a cleaner future. This raises the nation’s earlier 2030 goal of a 46% reduction.
Demands for More Stringent Emissions Goals
Experts and the ruling coalition of Japan are also criticizing new goals, calling the fifth-largest emitter to move away from fossil fuels. Over 80% of 3,000 comments were in favor of tighter emissions cuts in the public consultation period. However, the environment and industry ministries finalized the targets without changes, citing prior expert deliberations.
Japan will report its new greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), under the Paris Agreement to the United Nations later this month in order to fulfill its global climate obligations.
Renewable Energy and Nuclear Expansion
According to Reuters, the revised energy strategy sets a goal for renewable energy to contribute up to 50% of Japan’s electricity mix by fiscal year 2040, while nuclear power is expected to provide around 20%. Japan aims to increase clean energy to satisfy growing demand, lower dependence on fossil fuels, and establish a clean power future.
Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, nuclear power’s contribution to Japan’s electricity has fallen to a mere 8.5% in 2023. Yet, the new energy policy eliminates the earlier target of reducing nuclear dependence and instead demands the creation of advanced reactors.
Also read: Mitsubishi Corporation Reassesses Japan Offshore Wind Projects Amid Economic Shifts
Industrial Growth and Renewable Energy Challenges
In addition to the energy and emissions policies, the government also sanctioned a national strategy that combines decarbonization and industrial policy up to 2040. The government aims to develop industrial clusters in regions with abundant renewable energy, nuclear power, and other low-carbon resources.
Despite all these attempts, there are setbacks in Japan’s shift to clean energy. Japan’s wind power sector, the cornerstone of clean energy, is hit hard by setbacks as higher costs and inflation make projects more difficult to fund. Mitsubishi Corp recently announced that it would review three domestic offshore wind projects in light of these financial constraints.
Apart from that, global uncertainties of renewables policies could adversely affect Japan’s clean energy visions. The withdrawal of US President Trump from the Paris Agreement, as well as reluctance towards renewables, has made international climate collaborations and the installation of clean energies more challenging.
