Japan’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose by 2% during the fiscal year 2021-2022, the first increase in eight years. GHG emissions for FY21/22 reached 1.17 GtCO2eq, up from 1.15 GtCO2eq in FY20/21, as industrial activity recovered from the COVID-19 slowdown. GHG emissions in the industrial sector rose by 5.4% to 373 MtCO2eq, and emissions from the transport sector increased by 0.8% to 185 MtCO2eq. The FY21/22 figure was still 3% lower than the pre-pandemic FY19/20 level (1.21 GtCO2eq).
Emissions in FY20/21 were the lowest recorded since data collection began in Japan in FY90/91. Emissions in Japan peaked in 2013 with 1.48 GtCO2eq.
For 2030, Japan targets a 46% reduction in GHG emissions (compared to 2013 levels) and a share of renewables and nuclear in the power mix of 36-38% and 20-22%, respectively. The country plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.