Japan’s Industrial Eco- Accountability: Legal and Technological Dimensions

This study’s subject focuses on Japan’s strategy for getting its industries to meet environmental regulations. This research aims to pinpoint the Japanese government’s strategies for decarbonizing industrial manufacturing and highlights key initiatives within specific sectors to lower greenhouse gas output. The paper’s relevance is because of the attention paid in all countries of the world implementing the Paris Climate Agreement. General scientific methodology forms the basis of this research, involving a review of the regulatory landscape, statistical analysis, expert evaluations, and the categorization, systematization, and arrangement of relevant elements. The authors categorized and discussed a compilation of Japanese laws and regulations aimed at motivating industry adoption of low-carbon technologies. The key statutory act in this area is the Green Transition Japan’s GX Promotion Act of 2023, which sets the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 while simultaneously ensuring economic growth. Major measures being taken include reducing dependence on fossil fuels, using emissions trading systems, introducing a fossil fuel surcharge, investing in renewable energy, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage technologies. The authors outline key strategies for enhancing environmental stewardship and reaching carbon neutrality within specific Japanese industrial sectors. The study concludes that the Japanese government and corporate decarbonization efforts are yielding some results, with businesses showing reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Perskaya V. V. Greening of Industrialization as a New Stage in the Development of the Global Economy. Ekonomika. Nalogi. Pravo = Economics, taxes & law. 2025;18(2):19-30. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.26794/1999-849X-2025-18-2-19-30

2. Crippa M., Guizzardi D., Pagani F., Banja M., Muntean M. et al. GHG emissions of all world countries. 2025 Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union; 2025. 289 p. DOI: 10.2760/9816914

3. Matsudaira S., Minatogawa T. Energy Laws and Regulations 2026. Japan. 22.12.2025. URL: https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/energy-laws-and-regulations/japan/.

4. Cavaliere P. Barriers to Steel Decarbonization. Steel Research International. 2026;1-23. DOI: 10.1002/srin.202511317

5. Furusawa Y. Pathway to decarbonization of petrochemicals in Japan. Tokyo: Renewable Energy Institute; February 2024. 39 p.

6. Osaki Y., Hughes L. Japan: Putting hydrogen at the core of its decarbonization strategy. Potsdam: Research Institute for Sustainablity, June 2024. 20 p.

7. Kanazawa D., et al. Scope 1, 2, and 3 Net Zero Pathways for the Chemical Industry in Japan. Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan. 2024;57(1):2360900. DOI: 10.1080/00219592.2024.2360900

8. Bai Y., Hasegawa M., Shirakawa H., Yamasue E., Tanikawa H. “Resource- carbon” redistribution caused by Japan’s cement production and consumption: A life-cycle based multilayer perspective. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2025;115:108051. DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108051

9. Obayashi Y. Japan’s oil refiners scale back decarbonisation efforts, refocus on fossil fuels. 15.05.2025. URL: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/japans-oil-refiners-scale-back-decarbonisation-efforts-refocus-fossil-fuels-2025-05-15/.

10. Kennedy C. Top Japanese refiners step back from low-carbon investments. 15.05.2025. URL: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Top-Japanese-Refiners-Step-Back-From-Low-Carbon-Investments.html

11. Fantini M., Wesche J. P., Skjølsvold T. M., Chapman A. J. Low-carbon value chain building strategies across industrial and political contexts: A comparative analysis of decarbonization efforts in Norwegian and Japanese aviation. Energy Research & Social Science. 2026;131(104472):1-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2025.104472