Japan has as many companies with science-based targets for reducing climate emissions as anyone but the United States. The secret? They're the only country that offers government support to companies trying to set targets, part of a broader emphasis on private sector engagement in the country's climate plan.
Japan’s has the world’s third-largest asset management market, with its financial institutions managing nearly $30 trillion. Two hurdles stand in the way of the country realizing its full sustainable investment potential.
Eight recommended actions can improve energy efficiency in buildings to unlock a “triple win” and address economic, environmental and social challenges in world’s urban areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2016) — A new policy roadmap from World Resources Institute, Accelerating Building Efficiency: Eight Actions for Urban Leaders, shows how city-level leaders worldwide can overcome barriers to improving building efficiency and reduce energy demand through policy and market action. WRI finds that better energy efficiency in buildings can unlock a “triple win” of economic, environmental and social benefits for cities, and taking action now can avoid locking in decades of inefficiency.
Trees improve city dwellers' quality of life by reducing smog, preventing erosion, supporting wildlife and sheltering buildings from heat and cold. On International Day of Forests, Sarah Weber looks at how Tokyo, Belfast and Washington, D.C. have integrated trees into their urban landscapes.
To really understand what each country’s climate plan means for national emissions—and to trust that they’re on track to meet it—you need clear and complete information. A new paper finds that eight top emitters could go further in creating transparent plans.
In one of the least aggressive climate action plans of any developed country to date, Japan announced its commitment to reduce its emissions 26 percent below 2013 levels by 2030.
This chart uses historical GHG emissions data and the targets and timetables in submitted pre-2020 pledges (for 2020 reductions) and INDCs to estimate the average annual change in emissions (decarbonization rate) from 2020-2030.
This chart presents each target against each chosen base year to help facilitate easy comparisons.
Some reports say Japan will set a target to reduce its greenhouse gases 20 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. Research shows that the country can go much further, achieving reductions of 31-37 percent by 2030.
Coverage of Japan’s coal funding has sparked an important debate about the role of international climate finance in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Recently the world took two giant steps toward reaching a global agreement to fight climate change in 2015: a landmark U.S.-China accord and a $4.5 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund by the United States and Japan.
But there are some conditions attached.
After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Japan halted all existing nuclear operations and significantly scaled back its 2020 emissions-reduction target. As Japan revises its energy policy over the next few years, officials will decide the future of the country’s energy mix—and its climate action.
New research reveals that Japan can likely go beyond its emissions-reduction target with existing initiatives, but needs to pursue more ambitious action in the long-term to truly overcome the climate change challenge.
Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, Japan has embarked on a major revision of its energy policies.
WASHINGTON—The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Working Group II (WGII) portion of its Fifth Assessment Report on climate change.
Five-country comparison on solar photovoltaic and on-shore wind energy policies and progress.
Businesses measure their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for a variety of reasons—to assess their climate change risks and opportunities; to respond to demands from consumers, investors, and other stakeholders to access carbon markets; and to comply with government regulations.
Bringing together independent research institutes and civil society groups from key countries around the world to monitor national progress on climate change policy.
Increased industrialization in Asia has created countless hurdles for communities to protect themselves from pollution. Important government information—such as the amount of pollutants being discharged by nearby factories or results from local air and water quality monitoring—still isn’t readily accessible in user-friendly formats. This practice often leaves the public entirely out of decision-making processes on issues like regulating pollution or expanding industrial factories. In many cases, the public lack the information they need to understand and shield themselves from harmful environmental, social, and health impacts.
This state of affairs recently prompted a group of government officials, NGOs, local community representatives, and academics to demand government action to change the status quo. Last week, representatives from China, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Thailand released the Jakarta Declaration for Strengthening the Right to Environmental Information for People and the Environment. The Declaration urges governments to improve access to information on air and water quality pollution in Asia—and offers a detailed road map on how to do so.
The Declaration stemmed from a meeting organized by WRI’s the Access Initiative and the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law, held last week in Jakarta. Representatives will now bring the list of findings and recommendations to government officials in their home countries and ask for commitments on increasing transparency.
Developed country governments have repeatedly committed to provide new and additional finance to help developing countries transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient growth.