By Yuka Obayashi
TOKYO, April 14 (Reuters) – Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.9% in fiscal 2024, which ended in March 2025, government data showed on Tuesday, the third straight annual fall and the lowest since records began on lower manufacturing energy use and greater use of renewable and nuclear power.
Japan’s GHG emissions totalled 1.046 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in fiscal 2024, down from 1.067 billion tons a year earlier, environment ministry data showed.
The figure marks the lowest level since records began in 1990/91 and the third consecutive annual decline.
By sector, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industry fell 2.5%, while the commercial and services sector saw a 0.2% increase. Household emissions declined 0.7%, and the transportation sector recorded a 1.6% drop.
Japan aims to cut GHG emissions by 46% from 2013 levels by 2030. The fiscal 2024 figure represents a 24.9% reduction from 2013.
GHG absorption by forests and other sinks fell 2.9% to 52.3 million tons, the ministry said, adding that Japan’s total GHG emissions, after accounting for absorption by sinks such as forests, stood at 994 million tons, down 1.9% from a year earlier.
Emissions surged after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, which led to widespread nuclear reactor shutdowns and greater reliance on fossil fuels. They peaked at 1.394 billion tons in fiscal 2013 before trending downward, supported by increased use of renewable energy and the gradual restart of nuclear reactors.
In fiscal 2024, renewable energy accounted for 23.1% of the 991.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity generated, up 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier. Nuclear energy contributed 9.4%, up 0.9 percentage points.
Thermal power made up 67.5% of total electricity generation, down 1.1 percentage points year-on-year, consisting of 28.1% coal, 32.2% natural gas, and 7.2% oil.
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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