Position Statement on Japan’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP) has published a position statement expressing concern over Japan’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and urgently called for an early upward revision of the emissions reduction target.
The NDC that Japan has recently laid out for the re-submission to United Nations keeps its current reduction target unchanged (26% cut from 2013 levels and 25.4% cut from 2005 levels in 2030), failing to enhance its climate policy measures conducive to the achievement of the 2°C or 1.5 degrees target.
We see this unchanged target as insufficient to address the pressing climate crisis. Also, taking into account the growing impact of climate action on corporate competitiveness, we are strongly concerned about Japan’s inaction as it could imply to overseas business partners and investors that Japanese businesses are facing increasing climate risks, especially the transition risks.
It should be noted at the same time, that not only does the reviewed NDC reiterate the existing target, but it also expresses Japan’s intention to continue pursuing a higher target. Specifically, it includes commitments to carry out a review on the Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures and submit the necessary information to the United Nations as well as to conduct the review of the emissions reduction target in the NDC consistently with the revision of the energy mix in the coming years. We strongly applaud the policy-makers who have pushed for these commitments despite various obstacles including Japan’s post-Fukushima energy policy, and we urgently call for an early upward revision of the target.
JCLP is ready to help drive progress as a business community. Toward a more ambitious target, we will strengthen the ongoing initiatives such as RE100, policy proposals, and information dissemination to the society, and closely follow and support the critical policy processes including the revision of energy mix.
JCLP_Position Statement on NDC
Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP) is a coalition of companies in Japan (141 as of Apr. 2019) that aims to create a zero-carbon society, seizing on the idea that decarbonized development is a prerequisite for economic activity. It was set up in 2009 to urge the business sector to develop a sense of urgency on climate actions. Recognizing the key challenge climate change poses to the society, its members are committed to integrate decarbonization measures into their core business models. The members share the common goal and communicate proactively with policy makers, peer businesses and the civil society. The coalition remains unique in that a key focus is policy engagement on decarbonizaion in the country. Since April 2017, JCLP has been The Climate Group’s regional delivery partner on RE100, EP100 and EV100 initiatives in Japan.
Contact: JCLP Secretariat +81-468-55-3814 info-jclp@iges.or.jp