日本因能源转型缓慢被授“化石奖” 可再生能源发展水平大幅落后于国际同类国家

Core Viewpoint - Japan has been criticized for its lack of substantial progress in reducing fossil fuel dependence, receiving the "Fossil Award" from the Climate Action Network at the recent UN Climate Change Conference, highlighting a stark contrast between its self-proclaimed image of environmental leadership and its actual climate governance performance [1][4] Group 1: Emission Reduction Goals - Japan's revised "Global Warming Countermeasures Plan" aims to reduce carbon emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035 and by 73% by 2040, but this still falls short by 6 percentage points compared to the Paris Agreement's target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels [1][2] - The slight decrease in Japan's greenhouse gas emissions is primarily attributed to changes in energy demand and the gradual restart of nuclear power plants, rather than a significant shift towards renewable energy or structural reforms in the power system [2] Group 2: Fossil Fuel Dependence - In the fiscal year 2023-2024, fossil fuel generation is expected to account for nearly 70% of Japan's electricity mix, indicating that the dominance of traditional energy sources like coal and natural gas remains unchanged [2] - Japan has not established a clear timeline for phasing out coal power, despite calls from international organizations for a decisive transition away from fossil fuel generation [3] Group 3: Renewable Energy Development - Japan faces significant challenges in developing renewable energy, including limited transmission capacity, high grid connection costs, complex local approval processes, and frequent land and maritime disputes, resulting in a substantial lag behind other countries in clean energy deployment [3] - Since the Paris Agreement came into effect in 2016, Japan's International Cooperation Bank has provided direct financial support for 26 fossil gas projects in 15 countries, which are projected to generate 408 million tons of carbon emissions by 2024, equivalent to the annual emissions of the world's second-largest emitter [3] Group 4: Global Implications - The continued expansion of fossil fuel production and investment by developed countries like Japan could severely hinder the energy transition efforts of developing nations, emphasizing the need for genuine action in global climate governance [4]