2013-11-19

Japan's National Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Fiscal Year 2012 (Preliminary Figures)

The Ministry of the Environment summarized Japan’s National Greenhouse Gas Emissions (preliminary figures 1) in fiscal year (FY) 2012. Total emissions in FY2012 (preliminary figures) were 1,341 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Mt CO2 eq.), a 6.3% increase 2 compared to those of the base year. Compared to those of FY2011, the emissions increased by 2.5%.

Consequently, if the forest carbon sink measures target 3 is achieved and Kyoto mechanisms credits 4 are taken into account, the five-year average for total emissions during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (FY2008-FY2012) shows an 8.2% 5 decrease compared to the total emissions of the base year; therefore, it is estimated that Japan will have achieved its target for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (-6% below base year level).
 

Japan’s total greenhouse gas emissions in FY2012 (preliminary figures) were 1,341 Mt CO2 eq. The emissions increased by 6.3 % (79.8 Mt CO2 eq.) compared to those of the base year under the Kyoto Protocol (FY1990 for CO2, CH4, N2O, and calendar year (CY) 1995 for HFCs, PFCs, SF6).

Total emissions increased by 2.5% (33.2 Mt CO2 eq.) when compared to those of FY2011 (1,308 Mt CO2 eq.), mainly due to an increase in CO2 emissions from power generation. The main driver for the rise in emissions in FY2012 as compared to FY2011 is the increased fossil fuel consumption in response to the expansion of thermal power generation since the Great East Japan Earthquake, despite the decrease in manufacturing production and the widespread implementation of power saving measures across each sector.


1 Concerning the estimation of the preliminary figures: this estimation of greenhouse gas emissions is based on annual data compiled from statistics from a variety of sources - however, some of these data are not yet available. For such data - for which FY2012 values are not available - the FY2011 values were used to estimate the preliminary figures. Therefore, there may be some differences in the preliminary figures reported here when compared to the final figures to be reported in April 2014.

2 Concerning the increase in actual total emissions compared to the base year: the value “6.3% increase” does not take into account either the promotion of forest carbon sink measures or the Kyoto mechanisms credits.

3 Forest carbon sink measures target: about 3.8% (47.67Mt CO2/yr) of the base year emissions according to the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan.

4 Kyoto mechanisms credits:
Acquired by the Government: Total credits that were contracted as of FY2012 year-end through the Kyoto Mechanisms Credit Acquisition Program (97.528Mt).
Acquired by the private sector: The amount of credits that were acquired by the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (according to the Environmental Action Plan by the Japanese Electric Utility Industry [FY2009 to FY2013])

5 Total emissions and removals for the Kyoto Protocol target will be finalized after the technical review process under the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention to be conducted in FY2014. Also, the Kyoto mechanisms credits will be finalized after the true-up period for the first commitment period (expected to be completed in the second half of 2015 or later).

Attached File

November 19, 2013

Ministry of the Environment
Government of Japan

Greenhouse Gas Inventory Office of Japan
National Institute for Environmental Studies