Speaking at a virtual meeting of G20 foreign ministers hosted by the Japanese government, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that major investors, including some in Japan, prefer to invest in renewable energy sources that are cheaper and more efficient than fossil fuels. fuel. Guterres said Japan's business associations have called on the government to take decisive action on the climate.
“They understand that it is pointless to burn money by investing in the coal industry, which will soon depreciate. It just doesn't make any sense to include coal enterprises in any investment plan, ”the UN Secretary General said.
“I sincerely hope that Japan will stop funding coal-fired power plants, commit to zero carbon by 2050, begin phasing out coal use and significantly increase the share of renewable energy,” Guterres added.
He called on all countries, especially those in the G20, to ensure that by the middle of the century the amount of CO 2 emissions does not exceed the amount of carbon absorbed by forests and oceans - this is called "Carbon neutral" or "zero carbon". Guterres also urged them to make more ambitious commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and develop long-term strategies to meet the Paris goal of keeping average temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius.
