Japan has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2050 increasing Japan’s climate ambitions in line with other leading commitments made by the UK and EU in the run
up to next years’ UNFCCC conference, COP26.
Environment minister Shinjirō Koizumi hinted at positive indications on an increased focus on decarbonisation for the country, announcing that Japan would cease funding for coal-fired power plants. He indicated that there would be an increased push for the use of electric vehicles and an emphasis on hydrogen following an energy sector ‘redesign’.
Progress to achieve emission reductions is already underway with Japan’s first fully
competitive offshore wind actions to begin by October. The Japan Wind Power Association
is calling for a build out target of 1GW per year to achieve 10GW of capacity by 2030.
This was included in government-industry discussions on improving the competitiveness
of offshore wind in Japan – though Japan is yet to set a national target for offshore wind.
Offshore wind is viewed as a key technology to decarbonise and is also considered a
convenient source of power for the creation of green hydrogen through electrolysis.
The year 2020 marks the five-year deadline for updating and increasing national
climate commitments (known as NDCs) from the Paris Agreement, which was signed at
COP21. Japan is expected to revise its 2030 energy plan next year.
