No news on Japan’s 2015 climate target, as countries reveal new joint research in energy sector
(Pic: Number 10/Flickr)
The governments of Japan and the UK say they will intensify cooperation on a range of climate change issues, including energy efficiency, renewables and energy storage.
In a statement released on Thursday after Prime Minister Abe’s visit to London, the UK said both countries shared the view that climate change poses an “urgent and potentially irreversible threat.”
“We will… increase the scope for further cooperation and information sharing on policies on energy efficiency, nuclear energy, renewable energy, smart communities, energy storage, CCS technologies, electricity market reform, competitive and flexible gas markets,” it read.
The countries have also established what they are calling the ‘UK–Japan civil nuclear joint research fund’, building on recent investments from Hitachi and Toshiba in the UK’s future nuclear plans.
The statement did not mention whether Japan is planning tougher greenhouse gas emission cuts ahead of a proposed UN climate deal next year.
Last year the Abe government dropped its long-term goal to reduce carbon pollution 25% on 1990 levels by 2020, replacing it with a goal that will see them rise 3% on 1990 levels by 2020.
At the time the move was described as “deeply disappointing” by UK energy and climate chief Ed Davey, who added he was keen to understand how Japan intends to set “an ambitious 2030 target”.