Japan Plans to Raise Its 2030 Emissions Reduction Target to At Least 40 Percent

According to the Kyodo news agency, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has set a goal of making Japan carbon neutral by 2050 and the government aims to complete the 2030 target by the G7 summit in June, according to the Kyodo news agency, the country will reduce its 2030 emission reduction target to less than the current 26% compared to the 2013 fiscal level. It plans to increase it to 40%. However, it is stated that some concessions may need to be made, as there are different opinions between the ministries.

Suga will meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington on April 16, before attending a virtual summit on climate change of 40 leaders on April 22-23.

Calling for a virtual climate summit, Biden and his administration are expected to announce what the White House calls “an ambitious 2030 goal” at the summit.

While the EU increased its 2030 emission reduction target from 40% to at least 55% compared to 1990 levels, Britain announced that it would raise its 2030 target from 57% to at least 68%.

Kyodo said the Japanese Ministry of Environment has proposed an ambitious target of 45% reduction in emissions, but the industry ministry insists on a more conservative rate of 35%.

Kyodo said Japan previously planned to complete its new 2030 target at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, known as COP26 in November, but Suga decided to push it forward based on developments in the international community.

Last October, Suga had committed to an ambitious goal of becoming a carbon neutral society by 2050, making a major change in Japan’s climate change position.