Prime Minister Suga's statement of belief “Realization of a carbon-free society” Efforts and challenges of the business community

Prime Minister Suga's statement of belief “Realization of a carbon-free society” Efforts and challenges of the business community October 26, 17:48

At the extraordinary Diet session convened on the 26th, Prime Minister Suga made his first statement of belief and stated that "by 2050, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to zero as a whole" toward the realization of a carbon-free society. Did.

We have summarized the efforts and challenges of the business community toward the realization of a carbon-free society.

Toward the realization of a carbon-free society In the business world, there is active debate over efforts to encourage corporate innovation and encourage investment, and future power source composition.

Of these, Keidanren launched a project in June aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero.

In this project, we are aiming to create a system to collaborate with different industries and universities by disclosing the latest technologies of companies that lead to the reduction of greenhouse gases.

More than 160 companies and organizations, including manufacturers that have driven the Japanese economy such as automobiles, electric appliances, and steel, banks and major trading companies, are participating.

Keidanren wants to encourage investors and financial institutions to invest in participating companies, and to exchange opinions with the Ministry of the Environment on a regular basis to cooperate toward the realization of a carbon-free society.

Keidanren Chairman Nakanishi said in a comment in response to Prime Minister Suga's statement of belief on the 26th, "It is an extremely difficult challenge to achieve virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but Keidanren Even so, we will boldly take on the challenge of achieving an early realization of a carbon-free society through innovation. "

On the other hand, the Keizai Doyukai said that greenhouse gases should be reduced to virtually zero by around 2050, and that "even if the power source ratio of nuclear power generation remains at the current level, it can contribute to reduction" in 2030. By then, it has been suggested that the ratio of renewable energy should be increased to 40%, and efforts and discussions are being actively carried out in the business community toward the realization of a carbon-free society.

History of reduction targets

Regarding greenhouse gas reduction targets The government has set a long-term target for the first time in its global climate change countermeasure plan, which was formulated four years ago, saying, "We aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050."

And, in the long-term strategy for global warming countermeasures summarized last year, "We aim to realize a'decarbonized society'as soon as possible in the latter half of this century."

Meanwhile, overseas, the EU-European Union agreed at a summit meeting in December last year to set a goal of virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions for the EU as a whole by 2050.

In the last month, Xi Jinping Jintao of China has stated that the greenhouse effect on the emissions of gas "to strive to achieve a virtually zero until 2060".

Democratic Party Biden, who is running for the US presidential election, is also aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050.

Under these circumstances, Minister of the Environment Koizumi said at a press conference last month, "It is definitely positive for the realization of a carbon-free society that the entire world is now motivated to set goals and work hard." He said he should set a goal of virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year.

To achieve "substantially zero"

So what kind of efforts are required to achieve this goal?

The Global Warming Countermeasures Plan four years ago, which set a long-term goal for the first time, also showed for the first time measures to achieve the medium-term goal of "26% reduction by 2030" that had already been set.

For example, in the household sector, it is necessary to replace all lighting with low power consumption such as LEDs by 2030, and to increase the number of fuel cells to 5.3 million, which is about 17 times that of last year. ..

Furthermore, the ratio of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles to be sold is currently about 40%, but it was said that it is necessary to raise this from 50% to 70% by 2030.

In order to achieve “substantially zero” by 2050, it is likely that measures that will lead to further reductions will be required in addition to these efforts.

In addition, in order to achieve "substantially zero," it is essential not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to disseminate technology for recovering the emitted emissions.

In Japan, technological developments for recovering carbon dioxide and demonstration experiments to confine the recovered carbon dioxide underground are underway, but it is expected that it will take a considerable amount of time before it becomes widespread.

Furthermore, the Ministry of the Environment is studying the effects and issues of introducing a system called "carbon pricing," which puts a price on carbon dioxide and makes companies and households bear the cost according to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. There are also cautious opinions from some parts of the world.