Japan announced ambitious new climate targets pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 73% by 2040 relative to 2013 levels. The new plan is an important step towards carbon neutrality by 2050 and will form part of this country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN within the parameters of the Paris Agreement.
What Are Japan’s Climate Goals, and How Are They Changing?
Japan had earlier aimed to reduce by 46% from 2013 fiscal levels by 2030, but that has now been raised to 60% by 2035 and 73% by 2040. This is a remarkable move but environmental groups say it still fails to achieve the 1.5°C goal for global warming set by the Paris Agreement.
A Move Away From Renewables & Nuclear Energy
Japan is revamping its energy strategy to reach those goals by 2040, the nation aims for:
✅ 40-50% renewables (23% right now)
✅ 20% of nuclear power (8.5% at present);
❌ Reducing coal reliance to 30-40% (down from around 70%)
This is a significant turn about from its nuclear phaseout after the Fukushima disaster. But the obstacles are still there as only 13 of 33 reactors are now operating.
The Future of Fission: A Bumpy Road Ahead?
Nuclear energy still has safety issues and local opposition despite government support. Japan is preparing to restart two of its reactors most recently at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the largest in the world, which has seen visits from IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi.
To reduce emissions and secure energy independence in the face of Japan’s growing energy demand, a mix of nuclear and renewables will be essential.
