SUMMARY:
During the great
distraction of the
COVID-19 health and
economic disaster,
Japan quietly became
the first major economy
to submit "updated plans"
on cutting CO2 emissions.
Japan stuck with its
existing target of cutting
2030 CO2 emissions
by 26%, versus
2013 levels.
But ...
2013 CO2 emissions
were 20% higher
than in 1990, so the
promised cut by 2030
is only a 10% reduction
from 1990 levels.
Consider that Japan
has an aging population
-- their population is actually
shrinking. More adult "diapers"
are sold in Japan, than
children's diapers!
DETAILS:
All countries
were expected
to submit new
or updated plans
to the UN this year
for cutting emissions,
known as
“nationally
determined
contributions”,
under the Paris
Agreement on
climate change.
Existing efforts to curb
greenhouse gases
are NOT enough to limit
global temperature rises
to well below +2C,
which nations signed up
to under the voluntary
Paris deal.
Japan has become
the first country
in the G7 group of
leading economies
to produce updated
plans, ahead of a key
United Nations climate
meeting “COP-26”,
which was supposed
to take place in Glasgow
in November, but
has been delayed
to 2021.
Laurance Tubiana,
chief executive of the
European Climate Foundation,
and one of the key architects
of the Paris Agreement,
said it was “disappointing”
the Japanese government
has not increased its ambition
in response to the climate crisis.
“The EU, UK, China and
South Korea are moving
towards a new – low carbon
– economy.
If Japan doesn’t move,
it will lose out in the
high-tech race
of this century.
“At one of the most
challenging times
of recent memory,
we need bolder,
mutually reinforcing
plans that protect
our societies from
the global risks
we all face.
“But there is still time:
Japan should reconsider
its position and come to
COP26 with a more
ambitious plan.
This will also allow
a resilient recovery
from the negative
economic impact
of Covid-19,”
he urged.
Christian Aid’s
global climate lead,
Dr. Kat Kramer, said:
“Japan’s feeble and
unchanged national
climate commitment
is an international
disgrace.
“The fact they are
smuggling it out
during a global pandemic,
when it will avoid the scrutiny
it deserves, is shameful.”