According to the Japanese government, the domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions dropped by 1.2% in fiscal 2017-2018 (April 2017-March 2018) to an eight-year low. It was the fourth straight year of decline, which was mainly driven by the increased use of renewable energies and the restart of several nuclear reactors. GHG emissions totalled 1.3 GtCO2eq during the fiscal year, in line with Japan's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2030 by 26%. The observed reduction stood at 8.4% at the end of fiscal 2017.
Japan's emissions rose significantly after the Fukushima 2011 nuclear disaster, as the country shut down all its operational reactors and subsequently increased the use of thermal power generation. However, it turned to a decline in fiscal 2014-2015 with the help of new renewable energy production and the introduction of energy-efficiency measures.