温室ガス、５０年ゼロ法定化　脱炭素化で改正案提出へ―環境省

　環境省は２１日、２０５０年までに温室効果ガス排出量を実質ゼロとする目標を法定化する方針を決めた。地球温暖化対策推進法の改正案に明記し、来年の通常国会に提出する予定だ。法律に位置付けることで、政府の脱炭素社会実現への本気度を国内外に示す。
　菅義偉首相は、１０月の臨時国会の所信表明演説で「わが国は５０年までに温室ガスの排出を全体としてゼロにする、すなわちカーボンニュートラルを目指す」と宣言。環境省は２１日の同省有識者検討会で、この宣言について「法に位置付けることを検討すべきだ」と提案し、了承された。
　現行法は、政府に地球温暖化対策計画の策定を義務付け、これに温室ガス削減目標を記載。「３０年度に１３年度比で２６％減」「５０年に８０％減」を掲げ、閣議決定されている。（2020/12/21-17:11）

Japan's Environment Ministry decided Monday to write into law the government's target of achieving carbon neutrality in the country by 2050.
   The ministry specifically seeks to revise the law for the promotion of efforts to tackle climate change by including the target. The amendment will be submitted to next year's regular session of the Diet, the country's parliament, to be convened in January.
   The move is intended to demonstrate both at home and abroad the government's resolve to realize a decarbonized society.
   Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who took office in mid-September, said in his first policy speech in the Diet in late October, "We ... declare that by 2050, Japan will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero, that is, to realize a carbon-neutral, decarbonized society."
   At a meeting of experts on Monday, the ministry proposed that a study be made on including the declaration into law. Members of the panel accepted the suggestion.