Japan set to incorporate 2050 carbon neutrality goal into law

THE Japanese government has decided to stipulate in law its goal of achieving virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Through the unusual move of incorporating a long-term goal into legislation, t he government hopes to demonstrate, both inside and outside Japan, its determination to promote net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The environment ministry plans to include “zero emissions by 2050” in the law concerning the promotion of measures to fight global warming. The government’s policy will be discussed at an expert panel meeting scheduled to be held as early as December 21.

A bill to revise the law is planned to be submitted to next year’s ordinary Diet session.

The government’s mediumand long-term targets for global warming have so far been included in implementation plans based on the law.

The current plan compiled in 2016 stipulates t hat greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 26 per cent by fisca l 2030 compared to fiscal 2013, and by 80 per cent by fiscal 2050.

The latest move will make t he goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 more binding, as a Diet decision is required to rev ise a law, whereas implementation plans are finalised at cabinet meetings.

Even when a change of administration ta kes place, t he policy will likely remain due to t he rev ision of t he law, according to sources close to t he matter.

The government hopes to convey to the internationa l community that Japan is an env ironmentally advanced countr y at the 26th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), to be held in Britain in November next year.

The rev ised law will clearly state the 2050 deadline and stipulate t hat a decarbonised societ y will be rea lised, referring to net-zero emissions in which the emission of greenhouse gases and the absorption of such gases through forests or other means are equalised.

The revision also will include goals of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5C, compared to pre-industrial levels.