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We all know the importance of combatting climate change and the havoc global warming can do to our cities and day-to-day life. who can forget the heavy rains that lashed Dubai in April 2024? Different countries are taking many initiatives to reduce greenhouse emissions and play their role in this global fight. Let us discuss Japan’s actions on climate change.
In this Blog, we will take a look at some of the initiatives taken by Japan, which is the 5th biggest polluter in the world, in this regard.
Japan’s actions on climate change
Cut fossil fuel use
Japan is set to make aggressive changes to how it generates electricity by the end of this decade by cutting its dependence on fossil fuels and rather relying on renewable energy in an ambitious effort to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Renewal energy, which includes solar, wind, and hydropower, is targeted to make up more than 30% of Japan’s power generation by the year 2030, which is higher than the previous target of 25%. Moreover, for the first time, Hydrogen energy will also be added to this mix.
Further, due to strong Government support for solar initiatives and a steeper-than-expected decline in costs, it has also become more cost-effective to shift to cleaner sources of energy. As a result, the share of renewable power in Japan is expected to nearly double from a decade back.
Nuclear energy
The amount of energy produced from nuclear power is set to remain unchanged- Japan will require 27 of its remaining 36 reactors to resume operations. Only 10 units have started so far under safety rules enacted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster and resulting public opposition.
Power demand will slide
Japan’s power demand is expected to slide by nearly 10% over the next decade and the country is forecast to generate 930 Terawatt hours of electricity in 2030, down 13% compared to the Government’s previous outlook, due in part to advancements in energy conservation technologies.
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Commitment to climate goals
In addition, Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to meet the 2030 Paris Agreement goals by raising its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 46% by 2030 from 2013 levels, which must be noted, is higher than its previous aim of 26%.
Going forward
Some more actions that Japan is considering in this journey range from:
- Installing solar panels on millions of buildings (see picture below),
- Shut dozens of coal-fired power plants,
- Adding Hydrogen and Ammonia-fired power generation. Over the long-term, utilities also aim to shift to Hydrogen and Ammonia made from renewal sources to further lower their carbon-footprint.
Let us monitor Japan’s progress towards these goals over the coming years.
