On April 26, 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Tranpsort and Tourism (MLIT) published carbon neutrality targets for the 27 airports under its management. It aims for net zero emissions at eight of them by FY2030 and at the remaining 19 by FY2050.
The eight airports at which MLIT plans to reach net zero by FY2030 include seven with scheduled airline service (Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Kochi, Kumamoto, Oita, Komatsu, and Tokushima) and one without (Yao Airport in Osaka).
Of the remaining 19 airports, it plans to reduce emissions by FY2030 compared to 2013 levels as follows:
- Over 90%: Iwakuni, Hiroshima, Yonago, Kitakyushu, and Takamatsu
- Over 80%: Kagoshima
- 60% or less: Matsuyama, Fukuoka, Niigata, Tokyo Haneda, Sapporo New Chitose, Naha, Sendai, Hakodate, Kushiro, Sapporo Okadama, Wakkanai, Ibaraki, and Misawa
By FY2050, MLIT aims for all eight airports that plan to reach neutrality by FY2030, as well as four of the remaining 19 (Iwakuni, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, and Matsuyama) to generate carbon credits.
The ministry aims to achieve the targets by, among other things, improving air conditioning and lighting efficiency, switching to electric vehicles, and introducing solar and other renewable power.
