Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions drop to record low

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan on Friday said greenhouse gas emissions in the country dropped to a record low last year, largely due to COVID-19 lockdowns that slowed economic activities.

Data released by the Environment Ministry showed this was the seventh straight year of declining greenhouse gas emissions in Japan, Kyodo News reported.

“The equivalent of 1.149 billion tons of carbon dioxide was emitted in the year through March 2021, down 5.1% from the previous year to rewrite the previous low recorded in fiscal 2019 after the government started compiling data in fiscal 1990,” the ministry said.

Japan has vowed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030, raising its target from the previous goal of 26%.

However, last year’s figure marked only an 18.4% drop compared to the level in 2013.

“We would like to expand renewable energy and accelerate introduction of thermal insulation measures for homes,” the report quoted an unnamed ministry official as saying.

The data showed Japan’s industry sector “reduced energy-related CO2 emissions by 8.3% from a year earlier, while such emissions in the transport sector and service providers fell 10.2% and 4.1%, respectively.”

However, as people were confined to their homes during lockdowns, the household sector of the country saw a 4.9% increase in emissions, the report added.