Japan Aims to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 60-66% by 2035

Japan is setting an ambitious new target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60-66% by the fiscal year 2035, according to government sources.

This move comes as the country braces for another hot summer driven by global warming.

Currently, Japan, the world's fifth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, aims to cut emissions by 46% by fiscal 2030, compared to fiscal 2013 levels.

However, the nation is on track to achieve a reduction of approximately 60% by fiscal 2035, according to reports from Kyodo News.

A government source emphasized the necessity of this new target, stating, "We believe securing support domestically and internationally for a target below 60% is unlikely."

The source added that 66% is a realistic goal for Japan, aligning with the United Nations climate body's recommendation of a 60% reduction from 2019 levels to meet the Paris Agreement's objectives. For Japan, this translates to a 66% reduction from fiscal 2013 levels.

Environmental groups are urging Japan to lead by example with deeper cuts, noting that the UN's proposal represents a global average and that industrialized nations bear a greater historical responsibility for emissions contributing to global warming.

According to an April report from Japan's Ministry of the Environment, the nation's greenhouse gas emissions for fiscal 2022, after accounting for forest absorption, reached a record low of 1.09 billion tons of CO2 equivalent. This marks a 22.9% decrease from fiscal 2013 levels, indicating a "steady downward trend towards net-zero by 2050."

As the world strives to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels under the Paris Agreement, Japan is among many countries committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Net-zero emissions involve reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions being reabsorbed from the atmosphere by natural means such as oceans and forests.

By setting this new target, Japan demonstrates its commitment to combating climate change and aligning with global efforts to reduce emissions and protect the planet.