Japan sticks to 2030 climate goals, accused of a ‘disappointing’ lack of ambition

(Climate Home News, 30 Mar 2020) Japan reaffirmed an existing plan for combating global warming until 2030 on Monday, drawing criticism from architects of the Paris climate agreement for failing to set tougher targets.

Japan, the first G7 industrialised nation to submit an updated climate action plan known as a “Nationally Determined Contribution” this year, said it would “continue to aim at resolutely achieving” its goal set in 2015 of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030 from 2013 levels.

Its submission to the UN also said it “will pursue further efforts both in the medium and long-term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond this level”. It comes at a time when governments around the world are overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Laurence Tubiana, who was an architect of the 2015 Paris Agreement as France’s climate ambassador, welcomed Japan’s submission but said it was “disappointing to see the government has not increased its ambition in response to the climate crisis”.

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Climate Home News, 30 Mar 2020: Japan sticks to 2030 climate goals, accused of a ‘disappointing’ lack of ambition