Effective Action on Global Warming Prevention
by Japanese Electrical and Electronics Industries

The movement toward carbon neutrality has grown in earnest in Europe since around 2019. The United States is rejoining international efforts against climate change with ambitious targets along with the change of administration in 2021, and many developing countries have also set carbon-neutral targets.

In October 2020, Japan declared the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050. This declaration is specified as the basic principle in the revised "Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming (enforced in April 2022)." The government set a 2030 GHG reduction target as well in line with this level of carbon neutrality, and specific measures are currently under way in earnest to develop Green Growth.

In accordance with these domestic and international trends, industries and com- panies in Japan are working to prevent global warming on a society-wide as well as a global level in cooperation with various sectors.

Providing a wide range of products and services to all sectors

Japanese EE industries supply a variety of products and services (appliances, devices, solutions, etc.) to many sectors, including industrial, business, household, transportation and energy conversion sectors. With such characteristics in mind, we aim to contribute to the prevention of global warming, while having our sights set on the entire value chain.

Contribution throughout the value chain

Japanese EE industries have continued to implement energy-saving measures in the production stage and have strived to manufacture products in an energy-ef- cient manner while showing an increasing trend in investment amount per CO₂ reduction amount.（Fig. 1）

On the other hand, comparison of CO₂ emissions at each stage in the life cycle of products shows that some products such as household appliances and industrial equipment, in particular, tend to generate more CO₂ emissions in a product usage than production stage.（Fig. 2）

Therefore, we will contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions in the entire value chain by improving the energy ef ciency of appliances and devices, advancing the development of IT/IoT solutions enabling more ef cient energy usage, and spread- ing these improvements and development throughout society.（Fig. 3）

Japanese EE industries have participated in The Carbon Neutrality Action Plan^※1 formulated by the Keidanren, and are aiming to improve the energy efficiency of production processes by an average of 1% annually.
Also, for the purpose of contributing to CO₂ emission reductions in society through products and services, we have developed guidelines for quantifying CO₂ emission reductions and disclose the results of the whole industry annually.

Furthermore, in Phase II of the Action Plan, we have added a new challenge target to reduce CO₂ emissions by about 46% by 2030 compared to 2013, aiming to play a part in achieving Japan’s medium-term goal. We will take further actions to carry out these goals. (Figs.4-7)

We also support and participate in industry initiatives for quantifying contribution to avoided emissions, through the global value chain promoted by the Japanese government.

Japanese EE industries are working on the reduction of not only energy-oriented CO₂ but also other various greenhouse gases.

For example, greenhouse gases (HFC, PFC, SF₆, NF₃, etc.) are used in the manufacturing process of semiconductors and liquid crystal displays, for cleaning agents and solvents^※2 of electronic components, and for electrically insulating gases for power equipment. We have set voluntary emission reduction targets for each product area and are aiming to achieve them.