Japan’s New Climate Commitment Falls Woefully Short. Here’s How to Improve It.

The World Resources Institute criticizes Japan's decision to maintain its 2030 emissions reduction target of 26% from 2013 levels, stating the plan is 'no stronger than the one it submitted five years ago'. The author contends that Japan could strengthen its target to 42% using affordable low-carbon technologies and warns of financial risks from stranded fossil fuel assets. The document recommends that Japan increase its renewable energy target to 50% of the electricity mix by 2030, phase out domestic coal and overseas coal finance, and end fossil fuel subsidies.

• Japan's current national climate plan (NDC) maintains a target to reduce emissions by 26% by 2030 from 2013 levels, which is identical to the target submitted five years prior.
• Research indicates Japan could increase its 2030 emissions reduction target to 42% by investing in low-carbon technologies, regardless of whether nuclear power is used.
• Japan faces significant economic and physical risks, including annual extreme weather losses of $2.7 billion and the potential for stranded fossil fuel assets as other regions decarbonize.
• There is strong domestic pressure for higher ambition, with coalitions like the Japan Climate Leaders' Partnership (126 corporations) and the Japanese Climate Initiative (142 companies, 21 municipalities, and 58 organizations) calling for a stronger NDC.
• To improve its commitment, Japan should target 50% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030, stop providing $5.2 billion in annual overseas coal finance, and phase out fossil fuel subsidies, which totaled an estimated $1.8 billion in 2017.

APA

Leprince-Ringuet, N. (2020). Japan’s New Climate Commitment Falls Woefully Short. Here’s How to Improve It. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/japans-new-climate-commitment-falls-woefully-short-heres-how-improve-it

Chicago

Leprince-Ringuet, Noëmie. Japan’s New Climate Commitment Falls Woefully Short. Here’s How to Improve It. World Resources Institute, 2020. https://www.wri.org/insights/japans-new-climate-commitment-falls-woefully-short-heres-how-improve-it.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Leprince-Ringuet |first1=Noëmie |title=Japan’s New Climate Commitment Falls Woefully Short. Here’s How to Improve It. |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=30 March 2020 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/japans-new-climate-commitment-falls-woefully-short-heres-how-improve-it |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{leprinceringuet2020japans, author = {Leprince-Ringuet, Noëmie}, title = {{Japan’s New Climate Commitment Falls Woefully Short. Here’s How to Improve It.}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/japans-new-climate-commitment-falls-woefully-short-heres-how-improve-it}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }