Shinjiro to New York-Accompanying reporter-(Part 2) October 9th 20:07
Minister Shinjiro Koizumi who visited New York, USA in late September to attend the UN Global Warming Summit and related events. In the reporter's report and the first part of the accompanying report, we reported on the interview pattern and the ripples of “Steak remarks” that were not able to engage with overseas reporters. Report on the minister's local situation and why Japan did not speak at the summit. (Satoshi Sugita, Reporter, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Social Affairs)
Now it's production! Global warming summit
September 23, the third day after coming to New York. The summit for global warming will finally be held at the United Nations headquarters.
Up to this point, Koizumi's first overseas business trip was only a topic that was a little irrelevant, such as “sexy remarks”, but today is the real thing.
When I left my hotel and bought a donut nearby, I headed to the venue a little bit.
By the way, the minister stayed at the hotel because of security reasons. I couldn't stay at the hotel due to budget and other reasons ... I had a base in a nearby hotel.
On the way to the United Nations headquarters building, I remembered the exchange of the minister's enclosure the night before.
Reporter: What did you feel is not enough in Japan?
Minister Koizumi: First of all, I'm not good at communication. I want to appeal more, but I haven't done it at all. I think that this world must not speak at least English. No one uses an interpreter in the UN. I don't think it will be a match when a Japanese politician goes and there is an interpreter there. In addition to that, I talked a little with Chinese dignitaries, but my partner is Chinese, I am English, and a Chinese interpreter returns to me what Chinese is saying. This is the situation. That ’s why I think. I need to increase my troops more.
The minister seems to be confident in English skills anyway.
Of course, language can be an advantage, but to what extent is the problem involved?
If you need subtle expressions, you can add an interpreter.
In short, what is important to tell to others and what Japan insists on.
Attention will be paid to how the minister sends out to the world in New York.
I arrived at the United Nations headquarters through the heart of New York City, where strict security was in place.
A large conference hall in the United Nations headquarters.
Finally, the summit started.
The meeting was held at the call of the UN Secretary General Guterres.
Leaders from various countries gather one after another.
German Prime Minister Merkel, British Prime Minister Johnson, French President Macron, Indian Prime Minister Modi.
Representatives from about 60 countries attended.
One after another, he will give speeches about his country's efforts for about 3 minutes.
All of these countries are active in combating global warming, and in their speech, they made a lot of efforts to introduce renewable energy, abolish coal-fired power plants, and provide financial support to developing countries.
Just like Trump ... No real thing left
The summit was initially reported that American President Trump was absent.
However, a little noisy at the venue sometime after the beginning.
That is Trump-san ...?
I thought it would never come, so I thought it was just like a moment, but it seems to be real.
President Trump, after all, did not say anything and went out in about 15 minutes ...
Japan says ... don't you? Can not?
On behalf of Japan, the Minister of Environment, Koizumi, attended.
By the way, it seems that the United Nations sent an invitation to Prime Minister Abe, but it was said that the reply was “I was absent due to inconvenience of the schedule”.
The summit was decided a year ago, but it's still not convenient ...
The political world is difficult.
I have heard about this “inexperience of the schedule” from the executives of the Ministry of the Environment, but it has been clarified that nobody knows the details.
Well, it seems that nothing will be gained even if it is packed here, so I decided to concentrate on interviewing Minister Koizumi.
It was known in the previous interview that there was no Japanese remark at this global warming summit.
However, the desk in Tokyo said, "If you say so, it won't be news if you don't say anything". I had low expectations.
However, the minister was just sitting in the auditorium and there was no comment.
To be exact, “the UN didn't give me an opportunity to speak”.
In the end, I ended up writing a manuscript saying “I attended the Global Warming Summit, but I did not speak” and sent it to Tokyo.
I'm on a business trip to New York and the main meeting manuscript is a bit awkward ...
I asked Shinjiro
So why wasn't Japan given the opportunity to speak?
After attending the summit, Minister Koizumi, who was questioned by the press, said:
"I didn't speak, but I couldn't do it. As the first part, I would be given the opportunity to give a speech only to the leader or deputy prime minister.
“Even if I couldn't make a speech today, there are so many places where I can communicate. Since I wanted to make the most of it, I did my best to do what I could through various opportunities.”
In other words, Prime Minister Abe can't come because of the schedule, but instead, he attended the Environment Minister who attended instead, because he was not a leader, so he has no right to speak.
Actually, there was such an exchange the day before.
Reporter: The summit is the best opportunity to speak, but not in Japan. There are also indications that Japan has been “removed”?
Minister Koizumi: There is no such fact. I received the same question from Reuters, the Financial Times, and the New York Times, but clearly said "No". The prime minister cannot go to the summit because the date is not right. And only the summit class will give a speech at the summit. That is the background.
Reporter: However, the foreign minister speaks in China. Russia is also the deputy prime minister. Isn't it flexible to some extent?
Minister Koizumi: At first I thought so too. That's why I told the Ministry of the Environment to “Push”. But Russia and China are deputy prime minister classes. That's why the summit is that.
Japan did not have an answer to "homework"
In other words, isn't it possible to speak because the Minister of the Environment is inferior and cannot be said to be a leader?
Well ... I'm not convinced at all.
If there is a content that really appeals to each country as Japan, and there is a need, people who can speak should be present.
When the prime minister is impossible, I thought that it would be better to bring Foreign Minister Mogi and Defense Minister Kono (former Foreign Minister) who are fluent in English if it is okay to be a minister of the same class ... .
Also, if it is the deputy prime minister, is it Minister of Finance Aso?
But I don't think I can ask Daisen to ask me to come with you.
However, when interviewed all over, it seemed that it was not a problem for attendees.
Summing up the stories of the people involved, the UN Secretary General Guterres said that he was asking the participating countries to “take concrete and more specific measures to combat global warming”.
It seems that the country has a strong stance not to give an opportunity to speak to countries without specific measures.
The homework is given to each country, and "If you haven't done that homework, I won't let you speak."
That's why there is a strong sense of crisis for global warming, and I think it is a straightforward idea.
In fact, the US, who has a negative attitude toward global warming, attended by President Trump but had no opportunity to speak at the conference. Japan is seen with severe eyes from Europe and other countries as it is increasing against the global trend of reducing coal-fired power plants that emit carbon dioxide.
Some pointed out that even if Prime Minister Abe attended, he might not have been given the opportunity to speak.
In other words, it wasn't because the attendees weren't summits and couldn't speak.
At the same venue, 16-year-old Swedish non-leader Greta Thunberg gave a powerful speech and attracted attention from all over the world.
What do you do with Greta's sorrowful appeal “sounding”?
Greta-san was making a speech with a little scary expression.
"You say we're listening to our voice, we understand urgency, but if you really understand this situation and don't take action, you are evil, I can't believe it. "
Strict criticism for not immediately taking concrete action to combat global warming.
Minister Koizumi was listening to Greta's speech live at the venue. How did it feel?
“After all, Greta-san resonated. I had paper, but I didn't look through it. I say in my own words. You can see that you have power in your eyes and think from the bottom of your stomach.”
The minister, the politician, seems to have left an impression on Greta's speech.
“I think everyone, including me, took responsibility for the younger generation. Japan should not be as it is now. I never think that it should be as it is. It is important to demonstrate Japan's presence. "
He seemed to feel that Japan's efforts were not good as it was, and he stressed it.
However, there is still no mention of what to do in the future.
I still didn't say clearly how to make a specific policy or what I wanted to do.
Japan turned away
This time, even when I talked to participants from each country, I heard a harsh voice towards Japan.
Kenyan government official: “I want Japan to wake up. I hope to work with other countries to move from coal-fired power generation to renewable energy.”
A Nigerian environmental organization official "I don't know what Japan is doing. But I know that Japan and the United States are not very keen on climate change."
Not only Japan is not a partner in the field of global warming countermeasures, but there were many foreign officials who could not respond.
I felt a harsh eye on the sweetness of Japanese environmental efforts, including the media.
Sentimental journey at your home school?
“Honestly, when I was a student, I had a hard time studying, so when I heard New York, my heart was hard.”
Minister Koizumi talked about this before departure.
After graduating from a Japanese university, the minister went to Columbia University in New York for three years.
During my stay in New York, I had the opportunity to visit my home school at the request of the Minister.
Here, we exchanged opinions with Japanese students and researchers.
“Thank you for meeting you. This was the party I was looking forward to the most. You can shoot at all on your phone, so you can tweet.”
For a moment, I thought “I ’m coming to a meeting on global warming on a public affairs, and is this a place to remember?” But after the summit is over, let's not rush into it.
It was just a lunch time, so there was an exciting sandwich with meat and salmon sandwiched in the hall.
“When I was a student, I couldn't eat these fine sandwiches. I only had peanut butter and jelly (jam) sandwiches.
Even the son of the prime minister, he had a hard time while studying in the United States.
No, not when listening to the memories of the minister ...
At the University of Colombia, the minister talked a little more than usual, probably inspired by Greta's speech.
“The international community's interest in climate change, especially the excitement of young people and the sense of crisis, is completely different from Japan. In Japan, political issues are not raised as important issues. I feel a gap with the world, and I want to fill it in. ''
The usual sharpness lurks in the sound ...
Last day in New York.
I asked this question at the last minister's enclosure.
Reporter: "Decarbonization" to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050. Whether you say this or not, it is attracting international attention. What country do you think is next?
Koizumi Environment Minister: I think there will always be a next. Do not end with the next, but chain one after another. I don't think it would make sense if I didn't make that happen. I want to think about what that device can do.
Reporter: Not in Japan?
Minister Koizumi: How far can we go in the future, and how can we communicate and deepen understanding among various stakeholders? I think that's also involved.
Never say "Next is Japan's turn", do you keep the lectures of the offices faithfully, or do you become aware of safe driving as a minister?
Currently, the world is making efforts to make carbon dioxide emissions virtually zero by 2050.
This time, Japan couldn't show any concrete or new initiatives, but at the end I wanted to say, “We will do something about the Ministry of the Environment by 2050!”
As a minister, I was able to coordinate with the relevant ministries and it was hard to show my personal intentions, but I wasn't able to hear any clear expressions of my determination during my stay in New York.
By the way, there was a social gathering between the minister and the press this evening, but I didn't mention anything here, so I'll omit it ...
Next is “COP25,” an international conference on global warming countermeasures.
Before leaving for New York, Mr. Koizumi was enthusiastic about “I want to appeal Japan's efforts to the international community”.
Before returning to Japan, I was surrounded by the press and concluded with great satisfaction, "I did everything I could through various opportunities."
In a sense, this feeling is amazing ...
Japan has been pointed out that there is no concrete measure against global warming.
Greta-san's harsh words that “it is bad to take no action” seemed to be directed to Japan.
In December, an international conference on global warming countermeasures “COP25” will be held in Chile, South America.
Minister Koizumi will also attend.
How much will it change in two months from “Japan where I couldn't say anything” at this meeting?
While looking forward to wine in Chile, I would like to continue to cover the global situation regarding global warming, the efforts of each country, and various trends of Minister Koizumi.
Ministry of the Environment
Sachiyo Sugita
Joined in 2010. After being mainly in charge of incident coverage at Wakayama Broadcasting Station and Osaka Broadcasting Station, Social Affairs Department from 2016