UPSC Current Affairs – March 16, 2020

New prime minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, has committed to his country on October 27, 2020� to reach a target of zero emissions of greenhouse gases. He also committed to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050 by a fundamental shift in policy on coal use.

Highlights

• The PM said that- Responding to climate change is no longer a constraint on economic growth.
• He urged that people need to change their thinking that taking assertive measures against climate change would lead to changes in industrial structure and economy that will bring about great growth
• He also promised investment in research and development, deregulation and green investment.

Japan and Carbon emission

Japan is the world’s third-largest economy and the fifth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide. So, the international environment groups criticized Japan intensely for continuing to build and finance coal-fired power plants nationally as well as internationally. Japan had earlier committed only to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050. Now, however, it is following European Union that vowed to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Background

Japan had sourced more than 41 percent of its electrical power supplies from coal and oil in 2017, where natural gas accounts for almost 40 percent while renewable energy made up about 16 percent. Share of nuclear power stands at 3 percent.

Japan’s current plan

Under Japan’s current Basic Energy Plan, it� has aimed to increase the share of renewables to 22 to 24 percent by 2030 and share of nuclear power to between 20 and 22 percent.