Japan intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To cut greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050, the country will invest in new solar cells and carbon recycling, intensifying research and development in those areas, and digitalise its economy. In addition, Japan will have to start decommissioning coal power plants and will also stop building and financing new coal power plants in Japan and overseas. In July 2020, the government had announced plans to retire more than 100 inefficient coal-fired power plant units by 2030.
Japan’s previous objective was to become carbon neutral after 2050. Japan is the world’s fifth biggest emitter of CO2, after China, United States, India and Russia (2019). The country’s GHG emissions decreased by 3.9% in the financial year 2018-2019 (April 2018-March 2019) to 1,240 MtCO2eq, their lowest level since 1990-1991. It represents a 12% decline compared to the financial year 2013. It is the fifth year in a row of decline, which is mainly driven by the increased use of renewable energies, the restart of nine nuclear reactors and a lower energy demand thanks to a warmer winter.
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