2017 Volume 21 Issue 1-2 Pages 23-27
The Paris Agreement entered into force in 2016, with the world rushing to realize the 2°C target for holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. On the other hand, there is a big gap between the aggregate of existing mitigation targets of each country after 2020 and emission pathways that would achieve the 2°C target, and this means that more ambitious GHG reductions will be needed toward 2050 and later. Some countries have already submitted their long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. Although Japan proposes a 26% reduction of its GHG emissions by 2030 compared to those in 2013 and an 80% reduction by 2050, it has yet to engage in thorough discussions of its long-term strategy and roadmap. The existing analyses indicate an 80% GHG emission reduction is technologically feasible, but there are many challenges to realizing it. This paper introduces discussions in Japan toward achieving the 2°C target, and considers what will be needed in Japan to realize the 2°C target.
