Paris Agreement and Japan’s Energy and Climate Policy Challenges

Abstract

COP21 in Paris last December ironed out a historic Paris Agreement as a universal framework for tackling climate change. It has a hybrid nature, namely, on one hand, a pragmatic bottom-up pledge & review scheme, on the other hand, extremely ambitious top-down target（1.5-2.0 degrees temperature stabilization and balancing emissions and removals in the 2^nd half of this century）. It is not likely that a huge gap of 15 Gt between the mitigation pathway, which is regarded necessary to achieve 2.0 degrees target and compilation of Nationally Determined Contribution pledged by Parties. To narrow this gap, it is crucial to develop, demonstrate and deploy innovative energy technologies. Such innovation will not occur in the UN negotiation, but in public/private laboratories. Therefore, it is the key how to ensure enabling environment for innovation and facilitate international technology collaboration in coming decades. Japan has put forward a target reducing GHG emissions by 26% to 2013 in the year 2030 based on carefully designed energy mix, 20-22% of nuclear and 22-24% of renewable out of total power generation and 17% reduction of electricity consumption below business as usual case. All of these elements are extremely challenging under the current Japanese energy situation. Restart of nuclear power plants and their replacement is crucial for mid to long term GHG emissions in Japan. Japan should also exercise its leadership in development of innovative energy/environment technologies.