Climate Change

A Ministerial Meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) took place in the morning of November 16 on the margin of COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco. The meeting was hosted by Mr. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State attended by representatives from the 16 major economies accounting for a large percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with observers including representatives from Morocco (COP22 Presidency) also participating. From Japan, Mr. Koichi Yamamoto, Minister of the Environment, joined the meeting.

At the meeting, the participants exchanged their views on how they can best sustain the role of the major economies in leading global efforts against climate change. Minister Yamamoto expressed that Japan would continue working in cooperation with all countries through various dialogues to send strong signal to enhance climate action.

Many participants expressed appreciation of the role MEF had played in facilitating dialogue. They also highlighted their commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, and shared the view that the global trend in climate action including by private sector, such as the expansion of renewable energy business, is irreversible. The MEF participants reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate further with each other to tackle climate change.