US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry visited Japan this Tuesday to “strengthen bilateral and multilateral efforts,” the State Department said ahead of the next COP26.
“We talked to major polluting countries, including China, about our cooperation in efforts to reduce emissions,” said Japanese diplomacy chief Toshimitsu Motegi.
“China is the largest emitter of CO2 on the planet as well as the world’s second largest economy,” Motegi said. “It is important that we ask you to take responsibility for this issue.”
Last year, Japan set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. China had set a target of 2060.
Kerry is expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga later Tuesday and then travel to Tianjin in China’s northeastern region, where he will meet with the Chinese climate representative.
The COP26 climate conference, which will take place in Glasgow, UK, in November, seeks to establish new country commitments in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and finalizing key outstanding issues from the 2015 Paris Agreement.
