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2025 March 12 - 18 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Japan assumes ‘scenario’ where it cannot meet its CO2 reduction target

The government assumes a scenario in which Japan cannot meet its national reduction targets or nationally determined contribution (NDC) submitted to the United Nations, it was learned on March 13.

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Yamashita Yoshiki at a meeting of the House of Councilors Committee on Environment on the same day revealed that the government has written a “risk scenario” as reference material for its Basic Energy Plan, according to which Japan’s “CO2 emissions will be 1.5 times higher than the target emissions set in its main scenario.”

The scenario outlined the following risks: renewable sources of energy will not expand as much as expected; the use of hydrogen/ammonia fuels, which do not emit CO2 when burned, will not make progress; and “CCS” technology, which captures CO2 from industrial emissions and stores it underground, will not become widespread.

Yamashita said, “The utilization of hydrogen/ammonia fuels will certainly be a major risk. No industrialized country is aiming for ammonia co-firing to generate power as a means to reduce CO2 emissions.” In response, an official of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy admitted to the fact that “the technology for using hydrogen and ammonia in power generation is still under development.” In addition, Yamashita said, “The CCS technology is also full of risks.”

He went on to say, “Solar power should be further promoted by popularizing rooftop solar panels and introducing solar sharing on, for example, idle farmland. Wind power has high potential as well. The systematic installation of offshore wind power, such as with floating turbines, may be another choice. These methods will lead to a surplus in the energy balance of each community and contribute to revitalizing local communities.”

He stated, “In order to meet its NDC targets, Japan should encourage the full-scale diffusion of renewable energy generation like the ones I just mentioned.”

Past related articles:
> JCP Kasai opposes CCS project because of risk of accidents [March 25, 2024]
> Japan given 'Fossil Award' 3 times in row [November 22, 2022]