Prime minister: Japan to reduce greenhouse gases by 46% by FY30

The Leaders Summit on Climate convened by the United States started online on April 22 with the participation of leaders from 40 countries and regions. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga revealed a new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels, and other world leaders also expressed their determination to tackle global warming.

U.S. President Joe Biden said that the United States would “cut greenhouse gases in half by the end of this decade,” based on 2005 levels, while Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out measures China has taken.

Suga said in his speech at the virtual summit meeting: “[Japan] will aim to reduce greenhouse gases by 46% in fiscal 2030 compared to fiscal 2013, and continue our challenge of reaching the goal of a 50% reduction.”

The new target is significantly higher than the previous target of a 26% reduction based on fiscal 2013 levels.

Suga said: “It definitely will not be easy. By setting a high, ambitious target, Japan would like to take the initiative in the worldwide push for decarbonization.”

To achieve the goal, Suga said Japan would maximize the utilization of decarbonized power sources such as renewable energy and provide sufficient stimulus measures to encourage companies to make investments in the field.

“Decarbonization in the world can never be achieved by one country alone. The international community must tackle the issue in unison,” he said, calling for cooperation from the participating countries.

On April 22, ahead of the summit, Suga unveiled the new target at a meeting of the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters held at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Suga announced the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 in his policy speech at the extraordinary Diet session in October. The government had been working on a new 2030 target since then.

To achieve the new target, the government aims to expand the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

The Strategic Energy Plan compiled in 2018 stipulates that renewable energy should account for 22-24% of the energy mix in fiscal 2030. The government is now coordinating efforts to increase the ratio in a revised plan scheduled to be unveiled this summer. (April 24)