Japan’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hit New Low, Govt Credits Production Decline, Boost in Renewable Energy

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:03 JST, April 15, 2026

Domestic greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal 2024 totaled the equivalent of 1.046 billion tons of carbon dioxide, down 1.9% from the previous year and the lowest since records began in fiscal 1990, the Environment Ministry said Tuesday.

The decrease was primarily due to a decline in production in the manufacturing industry and an increase in the utilization of renewable energy sources, the ministry said.

CO2 emissions fell 2.5% year-on-year to 334 million tons in the industrial sector, which includes manufacturing, while household emissions decreased 0.7% to 146 million tons. CO2 absorption by forests and other sources was the same as the previous year at 52.3 million tons.

The government has set a goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, after deducting CO2 absorption by forests and other sources.

Net emissions in fiscal 2024 were 994 million tons, marking the lowest level since fiscal 2013, the benchmark year for the reduction target, and the first time below 1 billion tons.