Japan hopes to cut greenhouse gases to zero and become a carbon-neutral society by 2050. Prime Minister Yoshide Suga announced this major climate change policy shift on Monday, October 26.
Japan is the third-largest economy in the world and with this announcement, it joins a ‘growing group of major economies committed to lead by example in building a sustainable, carbon-neutral and climate-resilient world by 2050,’ according to Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Japanense Prime Minister Yoshide Suga pledged that the country would become carbon-neutral by 2050
Reuters reports that the nation had previously opted to not declare a date by which it would achieve carbon neutrality – preferring to say it would try to do so as soon as possible in the second half of the century.
The announcement of the 2050 date brings it in line with the European Union, which declared that it would become carbon neutral by the same date, last year.
‘Responding to climate change is no longer a constraint on economic growth,’ said Prime Minister Suga.
The policy address on Monday was his first in parliament since he succeeded Shinzo Abe in September.
‘We need to change our thinking to the view that taking assertive measures against climate change will lead to changes in industrial structure and the economy that will bring about growth.’
Suga added: ‘I declare we will aim to realise a decarbonised society,’ this was met by applause from Members of Parliament, according to the Guardian.
Japan is the fifth-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, according to Reuters. The country, which is heavily reliant on coal, is making moves to increase its renewable energy but also plans to roll out new coal stations.
New solar cells and carbon recycling would be pivotal to Japan achieving its goals and the country would intensify research and development in those areas, said Suga.
More than 60 countries have pledged to reduce their net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, according to the New York Times.
However, those countries only accounted for 11 percent of global emissions in 2017. The world’s biggest emitters are missing from the list, the top three includes: China, the United States and India.
The United States has not pledged to become carbon neutral. However, it agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26% by 2025, under the Paris Agreement, according to NPR.
The United States will leave the Paris climate agreement on November 4. NPR says it is the only country to withdraw from it,
Meanwhile, China has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060.
Japan joins the EU and China pledging carbon neutrality by 2050/2060. 🇯🇵🇪🇺🇨🇳
The group expands… ♻️🌏💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/kqKm7qI5QO
— Nicolò Sartori (@_nsartori) October 27, 2020
Picture: Instagram/visitjapanjp
