Speeches by the Environment Minister

Statement by YAMAGUCHI Tsuyoshi, Minister of the Environment, Japan, on the Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures, the National Government Action Plan, the Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement and the Climate Change Adaptation Plan (Oct.22,2021)

Today, October 22, the Cabinet approved the Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures, the National Government Action Plan, the Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement and the Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

The world is beginning to share a common recognition of the climate crisis. Against this backdrop, today is a historic day for Japan's environmental administration, as the Cabinet approved, at the same time, a total of four plans and strategies to bolster both climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation measures.

Climate change is an issue that all people around the world, across generations and national borders, should urgently tackle.

It will not be easy for Japan to attain the targets of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and reducing its GHG emissions by 46% in fiscal year 2030. In order to meet these challenging targets, it is essential for the country to promote a shift to a sustainable, resilient socioeconomic system, with decarbonization being positioned as one of the major issues to be tackled in all socioeconomic activities and with proactive decarbonization measures being regarded as a driving force for the next substantial growth of the country.

The government, based on scientific findings, will show a future vision as specifically as possible, take the initiative to promote the reduction of GHG emissions, and provide companies, local governments and citizens with the environments that will facilitate them to embrace the challenge of creating a decarbonized society.

Based on the new plans and strategies approved by the Cabinet today, the government will take a whole-of-government approach and make an all-out effort to achieve the emissions reduction targets and prepare for weather-related disasters, which might become even more intense in the future.

Moreover, seeking to ensure the success of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Japan will foster cooperation with the international community, while also supporting the world's shift toward net-zero.