U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed hope Wednesday that Japan will take specific steps toward its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while hailing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's recent pledge to make the country carbon neutral by 2050 as a "very important measure."
Noting that "Japan has been always at the front line" in the fight against climate change, Guterres said in an online interview, "I am totally reassured about Japanese performance in relation to climate action."
In March, Japan decided to retain its target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions 26% by fiscal 2030 as compared to the 2013 level, drawing criticism at home and abroad for failing to be more ambitious.