A group of Japanese companies from various industries has called on the Japanese government to revise higher the country's renewable power output target to up to half of its power portfolio by 2030, more than double the currently targeted level of 22-24pc.
A total of 92 Japanese member firms of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI), a network of companies fighting climate change, today urged Tokyo to raise the country's renewable power output target to 40-50pc of its 2030 power output, which is under discussion as part of the basic energy policy that is due for revision next year.
"In order for Japan to meet its responsibilities to be one of the leaders in global efforts, the target needs to be much more ambitious," the group said.
Such an ambitious target is expected to stimulate more renewable energy investment, allowing Japanese companies to play a greater role in global business areas and face challenges in offsetting climate change, it added.
The group said Japan's current 2030 renewable power target is far behind those sought by EU countries and US states in a 40-74pc range. Japan's renewable power made up 18pc of total power generation during the April 2019-March 2020 fiscal year.
The 92 companies include airline operator All Nippon Airways, shipping firms K Line, Mitsui OSK Lines and NYK Line, general contractor Maeda, auto producer Nissan, electronics firms Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba, metals firms Fujikura, Furukawa Electric and Tokyo Steel.
JCI was launched in 2018 to promote the decarbonisation movement in Japan, with 540 members currently participating in the initiative. The members include 394 firms and 33 local governments, with others from the academic and religious communities, along with non-government organisations.
Premier Yoshihide Suga's announcement of a new 2050 decarbonisation target has since sped up efforts among Japanese industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by prompting further debates and responses in the country's climate challenge. The government in December last year also drafted a green growth strategy to provide prospective areas with incentives to work towards achieving decarbonisation.
The country's industry ministry is working out new power output targets as part of a continuing revision of the basic energy policy. Currently being discussed is Meti's draft proposal to generate 50-60pc of Japan's 2050 power output from renewable sources, 30-40pc from nuclear and thermal fuels combined with carbon capture and storage and 10pc from hydrogen.
Business lobby group Keizai Doyukai, or the Japan association of corporate executives, last year urged the government to raise renewable power output to 40pc of total power output by 2030. WWF Japan, a conservation non-governmental organisation, last month also said Japan can increase renewable power output to nearly 50pc of its 2030 total power output in the run-up to achieving a 2050 decarbonisation goal.
