The proposed amendment to the Energy Conservation Act was approved by the Cabinet. (March 1, 2022)
It is expected to be passed during the current ordinary session of the Diet and come into effect on April 1, 2023.
This amendment will require companies with high energy consumption to set targets for the use of non-fossil energy.
While certain businesses have traditionally been required to calculate and report their greenhouse gas emissions to the government, they are now required to go further and formulate and implement reduction targets.
In future business activities, it is expected that the introduction of non-petroleum energy will progress widely, and the concept of "internal carbon pricing," which takes carbon dioxide emissions into account as a cost when making capital investment decisions, will also become more widespread.
On the other hand, regarding the "decarbonization of coal-fired power plants" that use ammonia and other ammonia-based energy sources, environmental groups and others have immediately raised objections, and there are ongoing calls for further decisions, such as "Japan should promptly show the world a path to transitioning to renewable energy."
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(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
The "Bill to Amend Part of the Act on Rationalization of Energy Use, etc., for the Establishment of a Stable Energy Supply and Demand Structure" has been approved by the Cabinet.
https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2021/03/20220301002/20220301002.html