Japan Green Initiative Update—Japanese Environment Minister Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi stated Tuesday that Japan would gradually phase out coal facilities over the next two decades while exploring new technologies to decrease, capture, and utilize carbon.
To meet its 2050 goal of being carbon neutral, Yamaguchi told The Associated Press that Japan intends to be a leader in Asia’s zero-emissions push and is drafting an emissions tax as a means of providing more substantial incentives to reduce emissions in recent Japan green initiative update.
There are no specifics yet, but Yamaguchi promised that “we would do our best to limit emissions” from coal-fired power stations by 2030.
Coal-fired plants in Japan are now being developed to use ammonia as a replacement for coal to phase out coal use by the 2040s.
Environmentalists and other critics are pushing Japan to increase its efforts to promote renewable energy sources, arguing that the country’s existing policies will only prolong the use of coal and impede efforts to reduce carbon emissions in recent Japan green initiative update.
The Japanese government has also been accused of pushing coal-fired power stations as part of its aid programs for Asian countries in the past.
As part of its support for other Asian nations, according to Yamaguchi, Japan will speed up the development of carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technology.
Many European countries, like Japan, have expressed reluctance to make the same firm commitment to phase out coal power. Late last year, it was given the Fossil of the Day award by an environmental organization at the COP-26 United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
Before the triple calamity of the earthquake, tsunami, and meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, Japan relied more heavily on nuclear electricity. As a result, many reactors were idled. But despite safety improvements, the country continues to burn more gas and coal to power its economy.
Nuclear energy specialists and skeptics believe that Japan’s current 20-22 percent objective for atomic power is unrealistic. By then, the country has committed to a 46 percent reduction in 2013 levels in recent Japan green initiative update.
Last year, Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 5.1% from the year before and 18.4% from the level of 2013, according to the most recent government data.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will promote ammonia, hydrogen, and other cutting-edge decarbonizing technologies during the G20 conference in Glasgow. There was no time frame for Japan to stop using coal as a source of electricity generation.
Even though Japan is widely perceived as being slow to abandon coal, Yamaguchi argued that the country should be recognized for its role in helping to reach an agreement on market mechanisms, which allows countries to share emission reductions while also providing financial incentives for businesses to do the same.
The “Asia zero-emission community” goal proposed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday would enable Japan, according to Yamaguchi, to contribute to other countries efforts to reduce emissions in recent Japan green initiative update.
Yamaguchi gave no specifics on when the carbon tax might be introduced or how much it would cost. Emissions trading and the imposition of carbon taxes for businesses and people are considered options, and the government has yet to decide on the matter.
Government-appointed “clean energy strategy” specialists and officials began meeting on Tuesday with the task of developing a plan for carbon pricing by the end of the summer.
With 17 other countries, the environment minister is considering launching a framework for discussions on a joint carbon crediting mechanism to reduce emissions to zero, beginning with the phase-out of coal-fired power plants. The environment minister is a former diplomat and Johns Hopkins University doctoral graduate.
Yamaguchi stated that the meeting should encompass all countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
He asserted that environmental concerns transcend national boundaries.
Japan Green Initiative: Work with Haryana Government
According to a government statement released on Sunday, Japan has shown a strong desire to work with the Haryana government on climate change and environmental challenges in recent Japan green initiative update.
A delegation from the Haryana government, including the country’s environment secretary Yuki Yoshida, visited the Aravalli mountains near Bhondsi in Gurgaon on Sunday to investigate the possibility of establishing a center of excellence for research on issues such as climate change and environmental degradation in recent Japan green initiative update. According to a statement, Foreign Cooperation Advisor Pawan Chaudhary and IUCN Managing Director Dr. Vivek Saxena addressed the possible areas of engagement and collaboration.
Senior Climate Change Division of German Technical Cooperation (Germany’s international aid agency) Ashwin promised to work with Haryana on environmental challenges, the Indian state’s government release claimed.
One of IUCN India’s top leaders, Minal Pahuja, has also stated her desire to work with the organization on sustainable concerns. PTI SUN AQS AQS
