Japan

Emissions Profile

Japan's CH4 emissions have decreased in recent years. The decrease in emissions from coal mining greatly contributed to this decrease.  Approximately 22 percent of its anthropogenic methane emissions—4.7 MTCO2E—come from landfills, natural gas and oil systems, and coal mines.

Japan 2005 Methane Emissions by Source

Source: 2006 USEPA Report: Global Anthropogenic Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions:1990-2020 http://www.epa.gov/nonco2/econ-inv/international.html Exiting Methane to Markets.

Experience and Opportunities for Methane Projects

Japan is not a major coal-producing country, but it is actively developing innovative ways to use coal mine methane. For instance, Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has commissioned a study to evaluate coalbed methane resources and exploration using S wave, a low-concentration gas utilization system. Additionally, five Capstone microturbines are producing approximately 130 kW of power at Sumitomo Coal’s abandoned Akabira coal mine on the island of Hokkaido. This power generation is part of a demonstration project examining the long-term viability of using abandoned coal mine methane for power generation.

Other Information

「環境省（日本国）へのリンク」　 Link to Ministry of the Environment Japan (Japanese) Exiting Methane to Markets

「より詳細な情報のお問い合わせは、環境省地球環境局国際調整官　島田 (Kunihiko_shimada@env.go.jp; Tel: 03-5521-8330)まで。」 For details, please contact Dr. Kunihiko (Kuni) Shimada, Principal International Policy Coordinator/ Principal International Negotiator, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment Japan (Kunihiko_shimada@env.go.jp; Tel: +81-3-5521-8330)

Committee Memberships

Japan participates in the following committees:

  • Steering Committee
  • Agriculture Subcommittee
  • Coal Technical Subcommittee
  • Oil and Gas Technical Subcommittee
  • Landfill Technical Subcommittee
  • Partnership Expo Taskforce

Japan Subcommittee Contacts.

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