Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 25, Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 4% in the fiscal year ending March 2024, reaching a record low of 1.071 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, down from 1.116 billion tons the previous year, according to data released by the environment ministry on April 25, 2025. This marks the lowest level since records began in 1990/91 and the second consecutive year of declines, driven by reduced energy consumption, increased renewable energy adoption, and the reactivation of nuclear power plants.
Smoke rises from a factory in front of Mount Fuji during the sunset at Keihin industrial zone in Kawasaki, Japan January 16, 2017.
The industrial sector saw a 4% reduction in emissions, while the commercial and services sector experienced a 6.2% decrease. Household emissions dropped by 6.8%, and the transportation sector recorded a modest 0.7% decline. These reductions reflect broader efforts to improve energy efficiency and transition to cleaner energy sources across various sectors.
Japan, a major global emitter, has set a target to cut emissions by 46% from 2013 levels by 2030. The 2023/24 figure represents a 23.3% reduction from 2013, showing progress toward this goal. The ministry also reported that greenhouse gas absorption by forests and other natural sinks slightly decreased by 0.2% to 53.7 million tons in the same period.
Following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan’s emissions peaked at 1.4 billion tons in 2013/14 due to nuclear reactor shutdowns and greater reliance on fossil fuels. Since then, emissions have steadily declined, supported by the gradual reintroduction of nuclear power and a shift toward renewable energy sources. In 2023/24, renewable energy accounted for 22.9% of the 987.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity generated, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the prior year. Nuclear power contributed 8.5%, up 2.9 percentage points.
Thermal power, which includes coal, natural gas, and oil, comprised 68.6% of electricity generation, a decrease of 4 percentage points from the previous year. Within this category, coal represented 28.3%, natural gas 32.9%, and oil 7.4%. The shift away from thermal sources highlights Japan’s ongoing commitment to cleaner energy alternatives.
The sustained decline in emissions underscores Japan’s efforts to balance energy needs with environmental sustainability. By expanding renewable energy capacity and optimizing nuclear power, the country continues to make strides in reducing its carbon footprint while maintaining a stable energy supply.
