TOKYO: Japan’s government plans to set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the household sector by 66 percent from the fiscal 2013 level by fiscal 2030, by raising the use of renewable energy sources, Environment Ministry officials said Monday.

The goal was included in a draft update to the government’s strategy to address global warming, which it aims to adopt before a U.N. climate change conference opens in late October, the officials said.

The strategy lists measures to be taken by the central and local governments, companies and households to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will be the first update to the strategy that was drawn up in May 2016.

The Japanese government has a goal of reducing the country’s emissions by 46 percent from the fiscal 2013 level by fiscal 2030.

The draft reflects a new basic energy plan unveiled by the industry ministry on Wednesday, which calls for doubling the share of renewable energy sources to 36-38 percent of total electricity generation by fiscal 2030 and keeping that of nuclear power unchanged at 20-22 percent.

The shift to electricity derived from sources that do not emit carbon dioxide when generating power will help households and offices greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the draft said. For offices, the draft seeks to reduce emissions by 50 percent.

The draft also calls for promoting lifestyle changes such as making well-insulated and energy-efficient houses and buildings and reducing food waste, which is directly linked to unnecessary energy use.

In the industry sector, emissions will be reduced by only 37 percent, under the draft, due to its lower dependence on electricity compared with households and offices. The reduction target will be 38 percent for the transportation sector.

The targets are unlikely to be achieved unless the use of renewable energy sources increases and more nuclear reactors go back online.

JIJI Press