[November 11th, 2024 – Baku] Today, on the first day of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Azerbaijan, Shigeru Ishiba was reelected Prime Minister of Japan and the second Ishiba Cabinet was formed in the Diet. On this occasion, 350.org calls on the Ishiba Cabinet and all Japanese political leaders to make fundamental policy changes to contribute to solving the climate crisis.
Despite the escalation of climate-related disasters around the world, as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has shown in its latest report, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by countries remain insufficient to achieve the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. In order to stay on track, COP29 requires both an ambitious agreement on a long term climate finance goal as well as ambitious updated emissions reductions targets that include the phaseout of fossil fuels.
350.org Japan campaigner, Masayoshi Iyoda commented:
“It is extremely regrettable that Prime Minister Ishiba has decided not to participate in COP29 in Baku – a rare opportunity for the Japanese Government to demonstrate its willingness to embody leadership on climate finance and the phase out of fossil fuels in a time of international political turbulence and uncertainty vis a vis the climate crisis.
Prime Minister Ishiba has himself identified the need for Japan to push for the expansion of renewable energy. He must lead the formulation of an ambitious Basic Energy Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), as well as contribute to a robust climate finance target (NCQG) at COP29.
Japan’s Minister for the Environment, Mr Asao, who will visit Baku next week, must step in and ensure Japan contributes its fair share to a new climate finance goal that consists of public finance on a grant basis, rather than loans that overburden poor countries.”
Masayoshi Iyoda is on the ground at COP29 in Baku and available for interviews.
Media Contact:
Mariana Abdalla (On site, GMT+4)
Email: [email protected]
Phone (signal): +55 21 99823 5563
Pascale Hunt (Remote, GMT+8)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +62 81236 661189
Kim Bryan (Remote, GMT+1)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 7770 881503
Rachel Brabbins (Remote, GMT-3)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +55 21 98299 8251