Japan’s government is confronting an unprecedented legal challenge as more than 450 citizens have collectively filed a lawsuit, each seeking 1,000 yen (approximately six US dollars) in damages. The plaintiffs argue that, as one of the world’s leading greenhouse gas emitters, Japan is failing to implement sufficiently effective measures to curb climate change, thereby exacerbating the risks posed by rapidly rising global temperatures.
The case was formally lodged on Thursday at the Tokyo District Court. According to the complaint, Japan’s current climate policies fall short of meeting international commitments aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. A summary of the claims, issued by the Climate Justice Litigation Office on behalf of the plaintiffs, states that Japan’s target of a 60% reduction in emissions by 2035 compared with 2013 levels is “insufficient and places our very lives at risk.”
At a press conference on Thursday, Chief Secretary Minoru Kihara avoided direct comment on the lawsuit. He emphasised, however, that climate change remains “an urgent and collective challenge for humanity.” He highlighted that Japan had announced a new, more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target in February, in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal, and that the government was working cohesively to meet it.
The lawsuit comes at a time when Japan has been experiencing record-breaking summer heatwaves, putting significant pressure on the electricity grid and healthcare systems. In response, the government introduced strict regulations in June to protect workers from extreme heat, with regulators imposing fines of up to 500,000 yen on employers who fail to comply.
Globally, climate-related litigation is on the rise, as citizens and advocacy groups increasingly hold governments and corporations accountable for inadequate climate action. A June 2024 report by the Grantham Research Institute documented at least 226 new climate lawsuits filed worldwide in 2024 alone.
Notably, a case in South Korea in August 2024, involving over 250 citizens—many of them young environmental activists—resulted in a legal victory, demonstrating the potential power of civic action to compel government intervention. Japan’s ongoing lawsuit may similarly represent a landmark step in environmental accountability, reinforcing the urgent need for decisive measures against climate change on both a national and international scale.