What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is an international framework concerning climate change issues after 2020. It was adopted at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) and came into effect in 2016.

The Paris Agreement is characterized by:

1. Setting a common global "2-degree target (aspirational 1.5-degree limit)" for greenhouse gas reduction after 2020.
2. Being a successor framework to the Kyoto Protocol.
3. Imposing obligations on all signatory countries.

Japan and the Paris Agreement

To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, each country submitted its reduction targets in 2015. Among these, Japan set a target of a 26% reduction by FY2030 compared to FY2013 (25.4% reduction compared to FY2005). In relation to this, Japan's "Long-term Strategy as a Growth Strategy based on the Paris Agreement" was approved by the Cabinet in October 2021. This strategy outlined "renewable energy as the highest priority principle" and "decarbonization of power sources" as directions for initiatives, and expressed a commitment to provide financial support to countries vulnerable to climate change.

To Achieve the Goals

Individual efforts are also crucial to achieve the above goals. To reduce CO2, which contributes to global warming, let's actively implement measures such as:

• Using public transportation such as buses and trains instead of private cars, and actively utilizing bicycles or walking as modes of transport.
• Initiatives to reduce food waste, such as thoroughly draining kitchen waste and sorting garbage properly.
• Energy saving measures such as setting indoor temperatures to energy-saving modes (Summer: 28℃, Winter: 20℃) and turning off lights in unused rooms or during lunch breaks.

Reference: Asahi Shimbun Digital "What is the Paris Agreement? A clear and concise explanation of its decisions."