Japan's greenhouse gas emissions fall for 3rd straight year
12 December 2017
Japan's greenhouse gas emissions shrank 0.2 percent in fiscal 2016 from the previous year to 1.32 billion tons, declining for the third consecutive year, Environment Ministry data showed Tuesday.
The latest figure for the year until March 2017 is 4.6 percent below fiscal 2005 levels. Although Japan has already met its goal of a 3.8 percent cut by fiscal 2020 set in its COP19 commitment, critics argue the target was too low and environmental groups have called on the government to implement measures to ensure larger reductions.
The fall in greenhouse gas emissions was mainly attributable to the increased use of solar and wind energy resources, with renewables growing about 50 percent from the previous year.
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