Japan‘s climate target of reducing emissions to 60% below 2013 levels by 2035 has been described as ‘unacceptably low’ by 350.org, while WWF has described the plans as ‘far below expectations’.
Japan’s government made the pronouncement in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), in which it also said that emissions would be reduced by 73% by 2040, putting it on a ‘straight pathway towards the achievement of net zero by 2050’.
‘Abdication of climate leadership’
Commenting on the country’s plans, Norly Mercado, 350.org Asia regional director, said, “Japan’s half-hearted emissions reduction commitment is an abdication of climate leadership that can derail the just energy transition in Asia. It fails to set a good example and sends a dangerous signal that Japan is bent on pursuing fossil fuel investments.
“Japan’s lack of climate ambition is apparent in how it continues to bankroll fossil fuel projects across Asia. This not only undermines global climate goals but also condemns frontline communities to more decades of pollution, displacement, and climate devastation.”
Elsewhere, Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan campaigner, described the NDC as a “huge setback for Japan’s transition to a fair and just renewable energy future”, adding that it “jeopardises Japan’s genuine green growth through renewable energy and energy efficiency”.
‘Farthest away’
WWF added that of the five G20 countries that have already submitted their NDCs, Japan, along with Canada, are the ‘farthest away’ from where they need to be.
“We are very disappointed in Japan’s submission,” said Shirley Matheson, WWF global NDC enhancement coordinator. “In the 10 years since the Paris Agreement was approved, we expected to be advanced in our well funded ambitious, accelerated and scaled up climate actions.
“But our global climate action is very far behind. And the G20 countries – as the richest economies in the world – should be setting the pace. It is very concerning that early G20 submissions are not delivering the level of action needed to keep the world on a 1.5℃ pathway.
“We expected Japan, as the fourth-largest economy in the world, to lead the global momentum toward decarbonisation with an ambitious target. As it is now, Japan will barely halve its 2019 emissions by 2035, which is far behind where G20 countries need to be.” Read more here and here.
