Government Drafts Roadmap For Carbon Neutrality
The Japanese government has compiled a draft roadmap that aims to achieve carbon neutrality in many parts of the country before the targeted goal of 2050.
The draft calls for taking all policy measures in the next five years to put Japan on a path to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power consumption to net zero by fiscal 2025 in at least 100 pilot regions.
The government aims to achieve carbon neutrality in these regions by fiscal 2030. They will include both urban and rural areas to showcase diverse ways to cut emissions.
The draft argues that by adopting cutting-edge measures in these regions and elsewhere in the country, carbon neutrality can be attained in many parts of Japan before 2050.
The draft proposes that local authorities and financial institutions establish frameworks to implement measures, while the government provides human resources, technology, information and funds.
It also calls for ways to urge people to undertake environmentally-friendly behavior. The draft cites such examples as showing carbon dioxide emissions for various goods and services, or giving reward points to consumers depending on the amount of emissions they are able to reduce.
The government plans to present the draft at a meeting with representatives of local authorities on Tuesday before finalizing the roadmap in May at the earliest.