Opinion on Achieving Decarbonization by 2050 without Dependence on Nuclear Energy

• 日本語版（Japanese）

  June 18, 2021

Japan Federation of Bar Associations

 

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (“JFBA”) compiled an opinion paper, “Opinion on Achieving Decarbonization by 2050 without Dependence on Nuclear Energy” dated June 18, 2021, and submitted it on June 21, 2021 to the Prime Minister; the Minister of Environment; the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; and the Commissioner of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.

Summary of Opinion

1. 1. The Government should spell out the following in the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures in order to help limit the increase in the Earth’s average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels:
   1. (1) Achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
   2. (2) To accomplish the above, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% or more compared to levels in 1990 by 2030; and
   3. (3) To ensure fulfillment of the above two projections, reviewing the reduction objectives every 5 years.




2. 2. The Government should implement the following initiatives in relation to supply and demand in energy, as concrete measures to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050:
   1. (1) Improving energy efficiency to further energy saving;
   2. (2) Toward the goal of 100% renewable energy in the power supply by 2050, presenting clearly the initial objective of 50% or more renewable energy by 2030 in the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures. Additionally, advancing the reform of the energy system further to promote the use of renewable energy, combined with establishing a mechanism to expedite the initiatives in communities while restricting reckless construction of renewable energy facilities;
   3. (3) Halting building of new coal-fired power plants including those under construction, and decommissioning the existing ones in stages by 2030. Additionally, halting the construction of new gas-fired power plants as well;




3. 3. The Government should not depend on nuclear power to realize the goal of decarbonization by 2050. Not to mention not restarting the existing nuclear power plants nor building new nuclear power stations, the existing nuclear power plants should be decommissioned as soon as possible; and

   
   




4. 4. The Government should integrate citizens’ opinions seamlessly into the process of deciding the measures against global warming and determining energy policies.