Head of Japan’s delegation to COP28: Mr. Shintaro Ito, Minister of Environment
Ministry of Environment Address
5, Kasumigaseki 1-2-2, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975, Japan. Tel: +81-(0)3-3581-3351.
Dear Mr. Shintaro Ito, Minister of the Environment
My name is Kazuya Takeda. I am the Country Manager for Japan for Climate Scorecard, a non-profit organization that monitors leading greenhouse gas-emitting countries’ climate policies and programs.
Based on a review of Japan’s policies, we believe that there is much that can be done to increase your country’s climate ambition, achieve the global goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and become carbon neutral by 2050. Therefore, we suggest you adopt the following goals and announce these goals at COP28.
# 1 Japan Announces It Will Strengthen Its Paris Agreement Pledge: As of 2021, Japan has pledged to achieve a target reduction of 46% (gigatons) compared to 2013 by 2030. We suggest that you announce a revision of this and related targets at COP28. We suggest that you announce that by 2030, Japan will reduce its emissions by 58% compared to 2013 (equivalent to a 50% reduction from 2019) and become carbon neutral by 2040. This goal can be achieved by rapidly increasing renewable energy production and strongly encouraging the electrification of energy demand. Major government investment in innovation and transition, subsidies and tax breaks, and enforceable policies are required.
# 2 Japan Announces It Will End the Production of Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuel-based thermal power accounts for 73% of 2021’s total electricity production. According to this target published in October 2021, fossil fuel-based thermal power will account for 40%, nuclear power for 22% (7% in 2021), and renewable energy for 38% (13% in 2021) in 2030. Considering the unreliable and costly nuclear energy system, renewable energy, especially solar and wind power generation, should be the axis of energy generation for Japan. We would suggest ending fossil fuel-based electricity production by 2040. Japan can achieve this by doubling the speed of the introduction of renewable energy.
I hope you will incorporate these suggestions in your presentation at COP28, and look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Kazuya Takeda
Climate Scorecard —- Country Manager