US Return to Paris Agreement What will happen to global warming countermeasures?

New President Biden of the United States signed a document to return to the "Paris Agreement" on the first day of his inauguration.

Will the United States, the world's second-largest greenhouse gas emitter after China, return to the Paris Agreement to accelerate global climate change countermeasures?

The Paris Agreement aims to keep the global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to before the Industrial Revolution.

It is said that countries around the world will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero, which is essential for achieving the goal.

New President Biden's goal is “zero in 2050”

New President Biden has set a goal of virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In the United States, even after former President Trump decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, companies and local governments have set up a group called "We are still in the Paris Agreement" to reduce greenhouse gases.

A virtually zero goal will support the efforts of businesses and local governments.

China also announced in September last year that it would strive to achieve virtually zero by 2060, and together with the United States, countries that account for more than 60% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions will be virtually zero by the middle of this century. Will aim for.

Will financial support for developing countries be strengthened?

It is also expected to strengthen financial support for developing countries.

Former President Trump has withdrawn from contributions to the Green Climate Fund, which helps developed countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global warming damage in developing countries.

The United States has promised $ 3 billion, or more than 310 billion yen in Japanese yen, but according to the Secretariat of the Green Climate Fund, two-thirds of it has been contributed as of December 31, last year. not.

The return of the United States to the Paris Agreement is likely to help boost financial support for developing countries.

Can the new President Biden take the lead?

Furthermore, under former President Trump, the United States was unable to issue a unified message due to conflicts with other countries over climate change countermeasures under the framework of G7 = seven major countries and OECD = Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

According to the WMO = World Meteorological Organization, the average global temperature rose by about 1.2 degrees Celsius last year, and there is not much time left to curb the serious effects of climate change.

Not only the long-term goal of 2050, but also the efforts for the next 10 years are important, and the issue is whether the new President Biden can exert his leadership and strengthen the measures of each country including the United States.

Expert "Entering a new era of competition"

Professor Yukari Takamura of the University of Tokyo's Future Vision Research Center, who is familiar with international negotiations on climate change, said that the signing of a document for the return of the new President Biden to the "Paris Agreement" was "very significant." Did.

Professor Takamura said, "It is very significant that the United States, which is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, returns to the Paris Agreement, and it is expected that global warming countermeasures will be promoted internationally." I did.

He added, "Although emissions themselves tended to decline in the United States, other countries have taken stronger measures to increase the introduction of renewable energy. In the future, the United States will take international leadership in this field. To that end, it is important how to proceed with domestic measures. "

Regarding the international situation regarding climate change countermeasures, "Major countries such as Europe and China have the same direction to pass on the next generation of economy and industry by taking aggressive climate change countermeasures. With the inauguration of the president, the United States will join this direction, and it can be said that we have entered a new era of competition. "

"Is the pressure to raise the target increasing?"

Regarding the impact on Japan, he said, "This is a business opportunity to provide environmentally friendly products and services to the large American market." On the other hand, "The automobile industry is responding to the rapid shift to electric vehicles. Will be needed. "

In addition, "Mr. Biden's promise is to impose a tax at the border on imports from countries that do not take sufficient measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so it is very important for Japan to take proper measures. It will be. "

On top of that, regarding the future outlook, "Under the Biden administration, pressure to raise emission reduction targets in each country including Japan is expected to increase. This is the opening of COP26, the UN conference on global warming countermeasures. It will be a year in which each country will review and resubmit its targets, and it will be a year in which Japan will have to discuss energy and reduction targets. "