Japan minister: Paris accord under threat if coronavirus trumps climate change

Record ID: 1469201

  • Title: Japan minister: Paris accord under threat if coronavirus trumps climate change
  • Date: 13th April 2020
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - JANUARY 17, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT SIGN READING (Japanese and English): "MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT" EXTERIOR OF BUILDING WITH JAPANESE FLAG
  • Embargoed: 27th April 2020 13:30
  • Keywords: COP 26 Japan Japanese Envrionment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi Paris accord climate new coronavirus
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA002C9BOT3B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi warned on Monday (April 13) that the Paris climate accord could face death if steps to fight global warming were put on the backburner to facilitate the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
    Many economists and policymakers are forecasting a steep global recession this year as countries are forced into lockdowns to contain the spread of the coronavirus, curtailing business activity in a major blow to jobs and incomes.
    Under the landmark 2015 Paris accord, nearly 200 nations agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to prevent catastrophic planetary warming.
    Japan last month submitted to the United Nations its closely watched target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a five-year review.
    The goal of a 26% reduction by the fiscal year ending March 2031 from levels seen in fiscal 2013 was unchanged from five years ago, disappointing climate change campaigners, although the country said it will pursue effort for further cuts.
    Speaking to Reuters, Koizumi said that he aims to submit a more aggressive target by the next climate summit due to take place in Glasgow next year.
    The conference, known as COP26, was originally scheduled for November, but has been postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus outbreak.
    (Production: Hideto Sakai, Akiko Okamoto, Hanna Rantala, Louisa Naks)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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