Climate Change
Participation by Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) Leaders Meeting (Summary)
On June 17, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, participated in a video-message format in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) Leaders Meeting, which was hosted by the United States in a video teleconference format.
- Prime Minister Kishida stated that, in order to achieve its commitments to reach net-zero by 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% in FY2030 with the strenuous efforts in its challenge to meet the lofty goal of cutting its emission by 50% under the policy of the “new form of capitalism,” Japan will work not only on transformation of energy supply structure but also on great transformation of the entire socio-economic system, encompassing industrial structure, people’s lives and the state of regions, as well as intensively consider the “Pro-Growth Carbon Pricing” to boldly introduce clean energy. He also said that, for that purpose, 150 trillion yen in new relevant investments will be raised over the next decade through public-private collaboration.
- Prime Minister Kishida went on to state that Japan is ready to play a leading role in promoting decarbonization and enhancing the resilience of the international community, and of the Indo-Pacific region in particular. He added that Japan will fully mobilize its technologies, experience, know-how and finance skills and work on advancing decarbonization and enhancing resilience under the concept of “Asia Zero Emissions Community,” while seeing clearly the varying realities of Asian countries and realizing their sustainable economic growth.
[Reference 1] Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF)
The MEF was inaugurated in 2009 by the initiative of the then U.S. President Barack Obama as a multilateral meeting to discuss measures against climate change and has been attended by 24 nations and regions, including Japan. Multiple MEF meetings were held annually between 2009 and 2016, but no such meeting was held during the ensuing years under the Trump administration. The U.S. under the Biden administration, which defined the April 2021 Climate Summit as the revival of the MEF, has also hosted two MEF Leaders Meetings, one in September 2021 and the other in June 2022 (the June 17 meeting), as well as an MEF Ministerial Meeting in January 2022.
[Reference 2] Attached PDF file:
Video Message by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio (spoken in Japanese(PDF)
and subtitled in English(PDF))