TOKYO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday the country will aim to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent from fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2030, compared to its prior commitment of a 26 percent reduction.
"I have pledged to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050 and have made it a pillar of our growth strategies. Japan is now taking a giant step forward toward solving global challenges," Suga said at a government task force meeting.
"In line with our goal for 2050, and as a more ambitious goal, we now aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by 2030, compared with fiscal 2013 levels," the Japanese prime minister said.
Suga's announcement was made prior to the start of a two-day virtual climate summit being hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden later in the day and to be attended by around 40 countries and organizations.
Suga first pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in Japan in October.
"Japan hopes to make active contributions to resolving climate change, and we hope to firmly lead global decarbonization efforts in the summit as we look toward COP 26 (the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties) and beyond," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Japan's top government spokesperson, told a press briefing on the matter.
Countries and organizations look to reconfirm their commitment to tackling climate change, specifically efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, as per the 2015 Paris Agreement. Some countries have announced fresh numerical targets ahead of the summit.
Along with Japan, the United States, one of the world's biggest emitters, announced shortly before the summit its plan to reduce emissions by 50 to 52 percent of 2005 levels by 2030.
Britain on Tuesday, meanwhile, said it now plans to cut emissions by 78 percent by 2035 from the 1990 levels, compared to a 68 percent cut by 2030 from the 1990 levels as announced in December.
While the European Union said last year it would aim to lower emissions by 55 percent in 2030 from the 1990 levels, compared to its previous commitment of a 40 percent reduction. Enditem
