Will COP25 start move to strengthen measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Opening of COP25 Will the momentum of strengthening measures to reduce greenhouse gas increase? Dec. 2: 5:08

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“COP25”, an international conference to discuss global warming countermeasures, will open in Spain on the 2nd. UN Secretary General Guterres held a press conference and called on each country to announce enhanced measures, such as raising greenhouse gas reduction targets.

“COP25” will be held in Madrid, Spain on the 2nd night of Japan time, with more than 190 countries and regions participating in a meeting to discuss global warming countermeasures, led by the United Nations.

Prior to the opening, Secretary General Guterres held a press conference in the region, saying that natural disasters are increasing in frequency and that human and economic damage is increasing. “Climate change is not a long-term issue. Are facing a crisis. "

On top of that, “It is clear that each country's current efforts are not sufficient. What is missing is political will. I want each country to show responsibility and leadership at the meeting. And called for a statement of strengthening of specific measures, such as raising greenhouse gas reduction targets.

At the conference, the international framework for global warming countermeasures “Paris Agreement” will begin next year, and we will aim to reach an agreement on some of the rules that are still in discussion.

In addition, it became clear that global greenhouse gas emissions continued to increase prior to the opening, and the world's second largest greenhouse gas emitter, the United States, officially announced its departure from the Paris Agreement. There are concerns about the impact of this, and the focus will be on increasing momentum to strengthen measures to reduce greenhouse gases.

“COP25” will be held until 13th of this month, and the Minister of Environment, Koizumi will be present from Japan, as well as Sweden's 16-year-old Greta Thunberg.

The momentum to 1.5 degrees

One of the focus of this COP will be whether countries are more motivated to raise their greenhouse gas reduction targets.

In that case, the number "1.5 degrees" is the point.

Last October, the United Nations IPCC made by scientists around the world = “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” published a special report, “The global average temperature is about 1 degree higher than before the Industrial Revolution in 2017. As it is now, it will rise by 1.5 degrees in 2030 at the earliest, and abnormal weather will increase further. "

Still, he said that “the impact on the ecosystem is much lower than when the temperature rises by 2 degrees” and that the average temperature of the world will rise by about 3 degrees according to the target set by each country. .

In the world, including Japan, a series of disasters that are thought to be affected by global warming, such as floods, storm surges, and intense heat, this prediction will strengthen the sense of crisis among those involved, and at least keep the global warming to 1.5 degrees. It has become globally conscious.

In September, the UN Secretary General Guterres asked the countries to open a global warming countermeasures summit in conjunction with the UN General Assembly, and to present specific measures that surpassed previous measures.

According to the United Nations, so far, almost 70 countries, such as France and Germany, have been making moves to strengthen countermeasures, such as promising that greenhouse gas emissions will be virtually zero by 2050.

On the other hand, major emitters such as Japan, China, and India have temperature differences such as not committing to zero emissions by 2050, and there are concerns about the impact of the US's departure from the Paris Agreement .

Agreed rules and remaining issues

Many of the rules necessary to implement the “Paris Agreement” were adopted last year at COP24 in Poland.

All countries, including developing countries, reported in detail the implementation status of greenhouse gas reductions, and experts decided how to verify once every two years. The reduction targets submitted to the United Nations every five years are: In addition to the types of gas to be reduced and the specific plans, we have also shown in detail the rationale for whether this is an appropriate and sufficiently high target in light of the actual situation in that country.

Also, in financial assistance to developing countries, developed countries are obligated to report to the United Nations Secretariat once every two years to the extent possible and the extent and purpose of assistance. Experts will verify.

Each country regularly confirmed the situation, raised the target every five years, and clarified the path to stepping up global warming countermeasures.

On the other hand, there are still some points that were not agreed upon.

This includes a mechanism for calculating greenhouse gas emissions that could be reduced through technical assistance to other countries, as well as rules for avoiding double counting.

In this COP25, another focus will be to reach an agreement on these remaining items.

What is the Paris Agreement?

The “Paris Agreement” is an international framework for global warming countermeasures, and will start in earnest from next year.

Adopted at “COP21” held in Paris, France in 2015, four years ago, and entered into force in November of the following year. Approximately 180 countries and regions have ratified it.

To keep the global average temperature rise below 2 degrees compared to the pre-industrial level, to make efforts to reduce it to 1.5 degrees, and to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero in the second half of this century It is set as a goal.

Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, which requires only developed countries to reduce emissions, it stipulates that all countries, including developing countries, will work to reduce emissions.

From next year, countries will be required to submit reduction targets to the United Nations every five years and report on the status of their efforts.

Expert “Japan needs to show maximum effort”

Experts familiar with global warming countermeasures on “COP25” pointed out that it is necessary to show that Japan is making the utmost effort to reduce greenhouse gases in order to play a role in the conference. The

Professor Yukari Takamura of the University of Tokyo, who is familiar with international negotiations on global warming countermeasures, will hold this meeting about the focus of “COP25” as natural disasters that are thought to be caused by climate change continue to increase in the world and the sense of crisis is growing Says, “We are looking forward to raising momentum for reviewing and raising the goals of each country, and to agree on that.”

“In Japan's long-term strategy, Japan aims to realize a decarbonized society as early as possible in the second half of this century. To show that Japan is making efforts equivalent to“ zero emissions in 2050 ”toward that goal. "I think it will meet the expectations of the world," he pointed out that it is necessary to show that Japan is making the utmost effort to play a role in the conference.

On the other hand, as Japan continues to use coal-fired power plants, international criticism is growing. “Long-term policies and plans for what to do with coal-fired power plants in a decarbonized society. I don't see it, I need to show the international community how to reduce it. "