Japan’s plans for future climate action ‘far below expectations’

Japan’s latest national climate plan, published yesterday, is far below expectations, says WWF.

Since the first national climate plans - called Nationally Developed Contributions, or NDCs - were introduced in 2015 though the Paris Agreement, they have not fulfilled their potential as powerful drivers for change. With just five years until 2030, when scientists say we must reduce CO2 global emissions by at least 43%, we need all countries, and especially the G20 grouping, to go beyond business as usual. Of the five G20 countries who have submitted their climate plans so far, Canada, and now Japan, are the farthest away from where they need to be.

Shirley Matheson, WWF Global NDC Enhancement Coordinator, said: “We are very disappointed in Japan’s submission. In the 10 years since the Paris Agreement was approved, we expected to be advanced in our well funded ambitious, accelerated and scaled up climate actions. But our global climate action is very far behind. And the G20 countries - as the richest economies in the world - should be setting the pace. It is very concerning that early G20 submissions are not delivering the level of action needed to keep the world in a 1.5℃ pathway. 

“We expected Japan, as the fourth-largest economy in the world, to lead the global momentum toward decarbonization with an ambitious target. As it is now, Japan will barely halve its 2019 emissions by 2035, which is far behind where G20 countries need to be.  

“Vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States, and communities affected by climate extremes, may well be asking themselves where the necessary ambition to avert climate catastrophe in their backyard is going to come from,” she said. 

Japan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2013 levels (53% from 2019) by 2035, and by 73% (68%) by 2040. But, says WWF, the target should be at least 66%. Japan should also triple its renewable energy capacity, and phase out coal-fired power plants by 2030. 

Notes 

1. The UN registry for NDC submissions is available here.
2. Of the 15 NDCs submitted so far, only five are from G20 countries: Brazil, US, UK, Canada and Japan. 
3. WWF welcomed UK’s the ambitious 81% target, and called on other G20 countries to follow suit. 
4. Other G20 countries China and Australia, and the EU, are currently consulting on their draft targets and plans, and no announcement dates for these known yet. \