The government new target for 46% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by FY2030
In the evening of 22nd April, the government determined 46% reduction target greenhouse gas emissions from FY2013 to FY2030, which is the one raised by more than 70% from the current target 26%. In order to make the intermediate target consistent with the 2050 carbon neutrality, the decision was made by a political initiative rather than the current accumulating method. The government speed up to review the plans on the energy mix and global warming countermeasures which will become the basis of the achievement of the target in the future.
In the same evening, Japanese prime minister, Yoshihide Suga stated the new target at the headquarter of the Global Warming Prevention Initiatives. While he was recognizing that it would not be easy to achieve, he stressed, “As the nation that supports the world’s manufacturing, we would like to lead the worldwide discussions by setting top-level ambitious goals that are appropriate for the next growth strategy. He expressed his ambition not only to achieve 46% reduction, but also to continue the challenge to achieve the 50% reduction target. Prime Minister Suga announced this new target to the world at the U.S-hosted Summit Conference on Climate held immediately after this meeting.
In development of the measures to realize the target, Prime Minister Suga stated “We will take bold measures focusing on energy conservation and renewable energy, and give priority to renewable energy” at the press conference on the 22nd April.
He declined to say when he was asked about the necessity to restart the nuclear power plant. As for the ground of the figure of 46%, he stated “It is a result of the efforts accumulated by METI, MOE and the government, and the figure will become visible if they put all their efforts into it“
At the press conference on the following day of 23rd, Hiroshi Kajiyama, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry explained that he had submitted rough figures to Prime Minister Suga and 46% cut was led by the “political decision made by him”.
Although the greenhouse gas reduction target normally had been decided by accumulating the effects of the individual measures one by one, for this time, the target figure was determined at first and the measures to achieve the target were forced to be studied on the basis of 46% reduction. As of FY2019, Japan’s greenhouse gas emission decreased by 14% from FY2013. Although Japan has made steady progress towards the current 26% reduction target, efforts must be further strengthened for the new target of further 32% reduction which is required in the remaining 10 years.
The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) began study on the energy basic plan consistent with the new target for greenhouse gas reduction at The Strategic Policy Committee ( Chairman: Takashi Shiraishi, Chancellor at Prefectural University of Kumamoto ) of the Advisory Committee for Energy and Natural Resources (advisory body of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry).
This plan includes restart of nuclear power generation and promotion of renewable energy introduction and energy efficiency and conservation. In response to the ambitious goals, the experts asserted that the innovation viewpoint such as application of hydrogen and ammonia power generation should be added to the plan, instead of the viewpoint of the conventional measure accumulation.