Japan Sets New Emissions Reduction Target
Japan's prime minister announced the country's new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Suga Yoshihide said, "I have pledged to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050 and have made it a pillar of our growth strategies. Japan is now taking a giant step forward toward solving global challenges. In line with our goal for 2050, and as a more ambitious goal, we now aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by 2030, compared with fiscal 2013 levels."
Japan's previous target through 2030 was a reduction of 26 percent.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden is hosting a climate summit Thursday, for dozens of world leaders.
The summit will be held for two days, with participants from about 40 countries and organizations.
Leaders taking part include Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Participants will explain how their countries are tackling climate change and discuss ways to support developing nations.
A senior US official says President Biden will announce his country will aim to cut emissions by 50 to 52 percent by 2030...compared with 2005 levels.
That's much more ambitious than the current reduction target of 26 to 28 percent by 2025.
The 2015 Paris Agreement looks to limit the rise in the average global temperature to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The United Nations says achieving that goal means cutting global emissions by 45 percent by 2030.
Each country must determine and regularly report on its own efforts to mitigate global warming.