Japan has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030, using its 2013 emission levels as a baseline. The country has also committed to working towards a 50% reduction in emissions – with no timeline given for this second goal.
The EU and Japan face common challenges in dealing with climate change and its impacts. They also share an attachment to multilateral solutions as the best way to respond to the global climate challenge and have formed a “green alliance” with other ambitious major economies.
In recent years, the EU’s bilateral cooperation with Japan on climate change has intensified, and the entry into force of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) offers new avenues and potential additional impetus for cooperation.
SPIPA has supported the EU’s collaboration with Japan by organising exchanges in areas of common interest, such as renewable hydrogen, offshore wind and sustainable finance. These included a webinar on Hydrogen in Transport, Industry and Power Generation at which recommendations on different forms of continued collaboration were made and which may inspire future dialogues; a trade-climate conference highlighting shared commitments and opportunities for collaboration under the EU-Japan EPA; and the Cities, Regions, Clusters: On the Road to Zero Carbon conference showcasing European and Japanese clusters, cities and regions on the pathway towards carbon neutrality.
Japan was also a part of a SPIPA multi-country activity on adaptation - Stepping up Knowledge Exchange for Climate Adaptation Platforms (KE4CAP) project.
Business and Net-zero Transformation
Climate Adaptation
Green Hydrogen
Energy
Sustainable Finance