Japan’s new target of a 46% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2013 levels — a 77% improvement on the previous goal — may be a giant step forward, but it’s still not enough for Tokyo to achieve its goal of net zero by 2050, experts say.
Addressing 40 world leaders at the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday that Japan will take a leadership role on climate change by striving toward one of the world’s most “ambitious” targets.
“Japan will continue its unceasing efforts toward 2030 and 2050,” he said. “Global decarbonization is something that cannot be achieved by the efforts of one country alone. It is a challenge that requires the whole international community being united as one.