COP 21 took place in Paris. As a result, the Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted in December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Before concluding international agreements, the Japanese government decides whether and how Japan can comply with them. The Government submits not only an agreement in question to Parliament, but also the relevant national legislation for approval. Japan has ratified the Paris Agreement, which means that it would honour the commitments set out therein. In fact, there are significant moves in Japan to comply with the Paris Agreement. In this article, I would like to describe these movements. [21] “JCI Statement calling on the Japanese government to strengthen NDCs,” Japan Climate Initiative, February 04, 2020, japanclimate.org/english/news-topics/callforndcenhancement/. The Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted in December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Japan ratified the agreement on 8 November 2016 and, on 8 December 2016, began to implement appropriate measures to achieve the objectives set out therein. According to Article 2(1) of the Paris Agreement, the objective is to keep an increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to strive to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. Article 4, paragraph 2, requires each Party to prepare, report and maintain successive nationally determined contributions that it intends to make.
This means that each party must submit the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the UNFCCC Secretariat. A target below 52% above 2013 levels (50% above 2005 levels) is the minimum that Japan should achieve as a necessary step towards achieving its 2050 net-zero emissions target. As Climate Action Tracker put it, “the Japanese government has not fully met expectations that it would commit to a 50% reduction target and join the Club of World Climate Leaders.” As an innovative country, a leading economy and one of the biggest contributors to climate change, Japan can and must do more. Japan should also commit to ending overseas coal financing, as announced by South Korea at the climate summit. It is marked by three important milestones. First, Japan`s commitment under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels. [19] “2050 Zero Carbon Cities in Japan,” Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan, 2019, www.env.go.jp/en/earth/cc/2050_zero_carbon_cities_in_japan.html. The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in Paris, France, in December 2015 as a new international framework for reducing greenhouse gases in the post-2020 period. This agreement is fair and applies to all contracting parties, which Japan has advocated since the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. Japan will work with other countries to develop guidelines for the Paris Agreement to achieve effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by all parties.
[20] “Japan Climate Initiative,” Japan Climate Initiative, japanclimate.org/english/. In comparison, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 include 17 goals, 169 goals and 230 indicators that require an integrated global response to three dimensions: economic development, social inclusion and environmental protection. The central concept of the SDGs is to “leave no one behind”, calling for an end to poverty, tackling inequalities and managing environmental issues, including climate change. President Biden`s fast-approaching climate summit offers a tremendous opportunity for some of the world`s largest contributors to climate change to improve their game, increase their climate engagement – and join the “50 Percent Club.” This is a group of countries that commit to reducing their emissions by at least half by 2030, on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. The United States, Japan, Canada and South Korea are ready for such a bold decision. These countries must seize the opportunity and commit to being halfway to carbon neutrality by the end of this decade. The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015 and entered into force in November 2016, sets ambitious long-term goals to combat global climate change and sends a clear message to move away from fossil fuels. The agreement provides a framework that fosters leadership in developed countries and includes the participation of all developing countries. The goal is to keep the average increase in global temperature well below 2°C and even 1.5°C compared to the pre-Industrial Revolution era. There are also adjustments to the Paris Agreement in the area of law.
Japan enacted the Global Warming Measures Act in 1998 to comply with the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. The law was amended in May 2016 to ensure compliance with obligations under the Paris Agreement. These changes aim to achieve three elements: raising public awareness, promoting climate action through international cooperation, and protecting the climate in the regions, as a reduction of about 40% of greenhouse gases in the civil sector is needed to achieve the set reduction of 26% by 2030. .