Japan Submits its Carbon Reduction Strategy to UN Outlining 60% Reduced GHG

Japan's environment and industry ministries finalized an ambitious plan on Tuesday (Dec 24) to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035, increasing the nation’s prior 2030 target of a 46% reduction. This move aligns Japan’s climate goals with international efforts to combat global warming and reflects mounting pressure for deeper emission cuts. Japan plans to formalize its revised target as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and submit it to the United Nations in February 2025, following a period of public consultation.

While the goal represents progress in Japan’s climate policy, environmentalists continue to urge more substantial commitments to meet the IPCC's 1.5-degree Celsius global warming limit.

The new target comes in the wake of the Biden administration's updated U.S. commitment under the Paris Agreement, which aims for a 61-66% reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2035. This U.S. target has been labeled achievable even amid potential policy reversals at the federal level. Japan's updated target also builds upon its draft plan unveiled in November, which proposed a 60% reduction by fiscal 2035 and 73% by 2040, forming part of the country's trajectory toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

However, the proposed target has drawn criticism from climate activists and environmental organizations. Critics argue that the 60% reduction goal is insufficient for Japan, the world's fifth-largest carbon emitter, particularly given its continued reliance on fossil fuels. Climate advocates highlight the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendation, which calls for global emissions to drop by 60% from 2019 levels by 2035, equating to a 66% cut from Japan's 2013 baseline.

The draft climate target was approved during a joint meeting of expert panels from the two ministries despite calls for stronger action from some panel members. These members emphasized the need for Japan, as a developed nation, to adopt more aggressive reductions in line with global expectations. Nonetheless, the approved target aims to balance economic growth, energy security, and decarbonization efforts.