In a significant policy update, Japan’s environment and industry ministries have confirmed a plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035. This revised target represents a substantial increase from the earlier target of a 46% reduction by 2030, an adjustment motivated in part by recent moves on the international stage, including a new U.S. commitment under the Paris climate agreement.
The updated plan, which was refined after initial proposals and expert consultations in November, outlines a trajectory that would see emissions cut by 73% by 2040 on the way toward achieving net zero by 2050. Despite being seen as a step in the right direction, this goal has been met with criticism from environmental groups and some political leaders who argue that, for a major carbon emitter like Japan—heavily reliant on fossil fuels—the target may not be ambitious enough.
These concerns are underscored by the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which suggests that global emissions need to drop by 60% from 2019 levels by 2035 in order to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. For Japan, this corresponds to a roughly 66% reduction from 2013 levels, indicating that the government’s plan may fall short of global expectations.
As part of its international obligations under the Paris agreement, Japan will submit this revised target as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations in February. The submission is expected to reflect not only Japan’s commitment to climate action but also its broader “Green Transformation (GX) 2040 vision,” which seeks to integrate efforts in decarbonization with industrial strategies and economic policies.