Environment Ministry endorsement has been withheld on plans to build three large coal-fired power plants in succession due to fears that such plants endanger Japan's commitments to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is meanwhile reportedly considering a cap on the proportion of coal in power companies' generation of fossil fuel-based electricity. The government and the power industry should rethink their emphasis on coal as a cheap alternative to nuclear energy in view of the impact on the nation's efforts against climate change.
Japan stands out among major industrialized economies in its promotion of coal as a key source of electricity generation. As the power companies rely heavily on imported fuel to run their plants due to shutdowns of most nuclear power plants since 2011, they are keen on the greater use of coal because it is less expensive than natural gas. However, coal-fired plants emit more carbon dioxide than liquefied natural gas (LNG) per unit of power generation.
It's an energy source that many other countries are trying to rely less on in their effort to cut the output of global warming gases.