Japan’s Circular Economy Vision Under the Action Plan | Chapter 5Comprehensive Climate Action and Adaptation

Warming is progressing because of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, with carbon dioxide accounting for the largest share of emissions in Japan. While global emissions continue to increase, Japan’s emissions and removals are trending downward, with declining energy consumption and the decarbonization of power sources cited as contributing factors.

Internationally, the process has shifted from the Kyoto Protocol to the implementation stage of the Paris Agreement, which seeks the participation of all major emitting countries. The Paris Agreement combines temperature-rise limits, updates to national targets, progress assessments, reporting and review, market mechanisms, adaptation, and financial support, requiring continuing international cooperation.

In Japan, the scientific foundation is being developed through observation satellites, research funding, assessment reports, and information platforms. Policy incorporates not only emissions reductions but also adaptation to impacts emerging in agriculture, disasters, health, ecosystems, water resources, and transport infrastructure.

Companies are expected to calculate and report emissions, shift to non-fossil energy, choose energy-efficient equipment and low-carbon products, and reduce emissions across their entire supply chains. Expanding demand for decarbonization technologies and green products may change how investment, procurement, and product competitiveness are evaluated.

In regions, aligning renewable energy deployment with local consensus and the natural environment, while combining microgrids, public transport, compact urban development, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises from regional financial institutions and economic organizations, can contribute to regional resilience and economic circulation.

For residents, relevant measures include energy-efficient housing, renewable energy, low-carbon transport, changes in lifestyles, and adaptation actions such as heatstroke alert information and cooling shelters. In agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and infrastructure, preparing for declining production and quality, disasters, water shortages, and rising maintenance costs will become important.

Emissions reductions will combine energy-efficiency standards for housing and buildings, compliance and performance labeling, the adoption of ZEH and ZEB, decarbonized power sources including renewable energy and nuclear power, energy-efficient equipment, storage batteries, hydrogen, and CCS and CCUS. The GX market will be developed through the full operation of an emissions trading system, carbon pricing, and support for advance investment.

For buildings, regulations and subsidies for new construction will be used together, while performance standards for windows and insulation materials will be strengthened. For renewable energy, Japan will promote solar power that coexists with local communities, lightweight and flexible perovskite solar cells, geothermal power, and offshore wind power. The number of geothermal power facilities is targeted to double by 2030, and development lead times are targeted to be shortened by up to approximately two years.

In industry and transport, efforts include voluntary industry targets, the shift to non-fossil energy, J-Credits, electric construction machinery, next-generation vehicles, logistics efficiency, and decarbonization in railways, ports, and aviation. In shipping, hydrogen and ammonia fuels will be advanced; in aviation, SAF; and in regions, demonstrations of hydrogen supply chains and regional independent power systems will be conducted.

Outside the energy sector, methane and nitrous oxide from farmland, livestock, waste, and sewage sludge will be reduced, while fluorinated gases will be managed across their life cycles, from production and use through recovery, destruction, and reclamation. Forests, agricultural soils, urban greening, and blue carbon will be developed as sinks, and mitigation and adaptation technologies for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries will also be developed.

International cooperation will advance technical and financial support for developing countries, the sharing of adaptation information through AP-PLAT, the allocation of emissions reductions and removals through the JCM, and the mobilization of private finance. Under the JCM, credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will be issued, and demonstrations of green hydrogen and perovskite solar cells will be conducted, alongside measures addressing methane and short-lived climate pollutants.

The government will reduce its own emissions and take the lead in adopting solar power, ZEB, electric vehicles, LED lighting, renewable electricity, and GX products. Local governments will be encouraged to undertake locally led initiatives through implementation plans, promotion areas, and regional councils, while companies will be required to report and disclose emissions and use reduction guidelines.

Adaptation will use impact assessments, A-PLAT, wide-area councils, regional plans, and corporate climate-risk disclosure. Heatstroke measures will include alerts, special alerts, evacuation facilities, and outreach organizations, supplemented by region-specific measures such as crop variety changes and disaster assessments. Connecting mitigation and adaptation through scientific assessments, institutions, technology, finance, and behavioral change is a central conclusion for achieving long-term goals.