November 30, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded on November 22 in Brazil, adopting a consensus document incorporating concrete programs for a “Just Transition Mechanism” toward a decarbonized society (a transition achieved fairly without leaving behind workers and communities in related industries), as well as the establishment of a “Tropical Forest Protection Fund.”

However, COP30 postponed the setting of a roadmap to accelerate the “fossil fuel phase-out” agreed upon in the Paris Agreement.

This failure raises serious questions about the significance and role of the Conference. The Citizens’ Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the Earth (CASA) in its statement pointed out that climate change is rapidly progressing, and that a stalemate in negotiations is unacceptable.

Eighty-two countries, including Germany and France, demanded that support for drawing up the phase-out roadmap be included in the consensus document. However, Japan did not approve this and even declined to sign a declaration promoting countermeasures against misinformation about climate change.

The international environmental NGO Climate Action Network (CAN) once again awarded “Fossil of the Day” to Japan due to Japan’s reluctance to tackle climate change. As reasons for the award, CAN cited that Japan is promoting “carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS)” and developing ammonia co-firing with coal, which CAN calls “technologies that prolong the life of fossil fuels.”

As of November 17, 114 countries and regions, including Japan, have submitted their national emission reduction targets. According to a UN analysis, even if these targets are met, CO2 emissions are projected to fall only by 12%, compared to 2019 levels. To achieve the goal of a 60% reduction by fiscal 2035, further increases in targets are necessary.

Japan submitted to the UN Secretariat a target of “a 60% reduction by fiscal 2035 and a 73% reduction by fiscal 2040, compared to fiscal 2013 levels.” However, these targets fall short of the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping the increase in global temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. As the world’s fifth-largest emitter, Japan should raise its CO2 reduction target in order to align with this goal.

The Japanese government led by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae should fulfill its responsibility to dramatically expand community-based renewable energy sources and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Past related articles:
> Japan assumes ‘scenario’ where it cannot meet its CO2 reduction target [March 18, 2025]
> Japan given ‘Colossal Fossil’ award with its negative stance toward tackling climate crisis [November 28, 2024]