NDC 3.0 Analysis briefs: Japan
Throughout 2025, CAN will release regular briefs evaluating how countries’ new NDCs align with our guidelines for NDC 3.0. You can access all the NDC briefs on the Transformative National Climate Action Plans’s page.
| In a nutshell: How did Japan’s NDC deliver on… – Fair, economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets: Japan aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% by 2035 (relative to 2013 levels). This falls short of the 178-220% reduction needed for Japan to meet its fair share, according to the Civil Society Equity Review. – Sectoral objectives: Japan does not provide sectoral targets, though it lists key actions to decarbonise various sectors. Concerningly, in the energy sector, Japan is reversing its previous efforts to phase down nuclear power, and is instead now aiming to increase its share in the electricity mix from 8.5% in 2023 to 20% by 2040. – Fair financial support: There is little detail on how Japan will meet its fair share of international climate finance. Instead, there is a large emphasis on expanding carbon market activities under the Joint Crediting Mechanism and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. – Just transition: The Plan places significant emphasis on promoting low-emission lifestyle changes amongst the Japanese population. However, there must be a more targeted focus on systemically addressing the energy sector’s emissions (the most polluting sector in Japan). – Inclusiveness and participation: The NDC and its implementation plan lacked information on clear strategies to engage women, youth, seniors, and other marginalised groups in the development of the NDC and the Plan, and ignored the thousands of public comments calling for more ambitious mitigation targets. – Adequate access to good-quality financial means: The financial mechanisms and support programmes outlined in Japan’s NDC and Plan are heavily market-oriented and focused on mitigation, insufficiently aligning with justice-oriented measures of adequate financial support. Download the full brief here. |
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Download file: http://CAN-I-NDC-Brief-JAPAN.pdf