Speeches by the Environment Minister
Video message by KOIZUMI Shinjiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan, at P4G Seoul Summit (May 30, 2021)
Let me begin by thanking President Moon Jae-in and the Government of the Republic of Korea for hosting the P4G Seoul Summit.
We are facing significant global crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and biodiversity loss. In response, it is essential to redesign our socio-economic system to make it sustainable and resilient. To this end, Japan is accelerating its efforts to make "three transitions": the transition to a "decarbonized society," the transition to a "circular economy," and the transition to a "decentralized society."
We've made our commitment to decarbonization clear. At the Climate Summit in April, Prime Minister SUGA announced Japan's target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent in 2030 from its 2013 level. In addition, Japan will continue strenuous efforts in its challenge to meet the goal of cutting its emissions by 50 percent. Just this week, the Diet has passed an amended law, making the carbon-neutral target for 2050 legally binding and ensuring its policy continuity.
46 percent is an ambitious target in line with the long-term 2050 goal. But, by setting an ambitious target together, we can create a significant momentum towards carbon neutrality in the international community, including major emitting countries.
Climate action in local communities is important, and we have an essential role to play in promoting their actions. In Japan, 390 cities have committed to becoming "Zero Carbon Cities" by 2050. To help them put this commitment into action, we are formulating a roadmap for local climate action. This includes accelerating the creation of leading models of carbon-neutral regions, intensively in the next five years up to 2025, and expanding a series of"decarbonization domino effects" among local communities.
Our ambition does not stop in Japan. We want to see such "domino effects" spreading to the world. To make that happen, we support city-to-city collaboration between Japanese and foreign cities. Back in March, with the cooperation of Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur declared itself to become carbon neutral by 2050. This is the first case of a cross-border "decarbonization domino".
The effort of redesigning will never be easy, but we hope to work with the international community to advance our joint work of redesigning the global socio-economic system for future generations.
Let's work together, thank you. Arigato.
We are facing significant global crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and biodiversity loss. In response, it is essential to redesign our socio-economic system to make it sustainable and resilient. To this end, Japan is accelerating its efforts to make "three transitions": the transition to a "decarbonized society," the transition to a "circular economy," and the transition to a "decentralized society."
We've made our commitment to decarbonization clear. At the Climate Summit in April, Prime Minister SUGA announced Japan's target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent in 2030 from its 2013 level. In addition, Japan will continue strenuous efforts in its challenge to meet the goal of cutting its emissions by 50 percent. Just this week, the Diet has passed an amended law, making the carbon-neutral target for 2050 legally binding and ensuring its policy continuity.
46 percent is an ambitious target in line with the long-term 2050 goal. But, by setting an ambitious target together, we can create a significant momentum towards carbon neutrality in the international community, including major emitting countries.
Climate action in local communities is important, and we have an essential role to play in promoting their actions. In Japan, 390 cities have committed to becoming "Zero Carbon Cities" by 2050. To help them put this commitment into action, we are formulating a roadmap for local climate action. This includes accelerating the creation of leading models of carbon-neutral regions, intensively in the next five years up to 2025, and expanding a series of"decarbonization domino effects" among local communities.
Our ambition does not stop in Japan. We want to see such "domino effects" spreading to the world. To make that happen, we support city-to-city collaboration between Japanese and foreign cities. Back in March, with the cooperation of Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur declared itself to become carbon neutral by 2050. This is the first case of a cross-border "decarbonization domino".
The effort of redesigning will never be easy, but we hope to work with the international community to advance our joint work of redesigning the global socio-economic system for future generations.
Let's work together, thank you. Arigato.