Japan mulls higher climate change goals

In an effort to introduce a long-term strategy against climate change before the Group of 20 summit in Osaka in June, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on the government to set a more ambitious goal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

"We hope to accelerate the virtuous cycle of taking environmental measures and promoting growth, and trigger a paradigm shift in the world," Abe said at a panel attended by politicians, professors and corporate executives on Tuesday.

During the panel, experts said Japan needs to make a shift in its efforts toward fighting global warming and should aim to achieve the "ultimate goal of a carbon-free society at the earliest possible time during the second half of this century".

Right now, Japan has been striving to slash emissions of greenhouse gases by 80 percent from its 2013 levels by 2050.

The experts proposed that Japan should "show contributions" to achieve the goal of the 2015 Paris climate change accord, which is to keep the rise in average global temperatures to well below 2 C, and ideally below 1.5 C, above pre-industrial levels to mitigate the impact of climate change such as droughts, floods and rising sea levels.

In order to do that, the panel suggested greater use of renewable energy, reductions in the country's reliance on coal-fired power generation and development of technologies to capture and store carbondioxide emissions.

Endorsing the proposals, Abe said he will promote efforts to "cut the cost of hydrogen energy to less than a tenth of the current level by 2050" and to study the commercial use of artificial photosynthesis technology.

"Measures to stop global warming are no longer a drag on companies, but rather a vital source of competitive strength," Abe said.

Yu Qiang, a Japan Studies researcher at the University of International Relations in Beijing, said Abe's position on fighting climate change should be admired by the international community at a time when the world is facing challenges on confronting the problem.

"If Japan sets a higher goal for cutting greenhouse gases, it definitely will make a good example for other countries to follow," Yu said.

However, Yu also said Japan should reduce heavy use of coal-fired power plants and reconsider its plans to build more, as they "go against" what the country had proposed.

Kyodo News contributed to this story.