Statement by Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, Chairman of Keizai Doyukai
on Outcome of COP24

December 16, 2018

Yoshimitsu Kobayashi
Chairman, Keizai Doyukai

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1. We welcome the decisions for the Paris Agreement Work Programme at the twenty-fourth session of Conference of the Parties (COP24) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is a big step forward after overcoming the conflict of interests between advanced and developing nations. We respect the hard work made by the parties concerned.
2. In October 2018, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced a Special Report on the global warming of 1.5℃. This Report emphasizes that it is necessary to limit global warming within 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels by achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions around 2050. It is a challenge that can be resolved only by further efforts of all nations. Amid concerns over the withdrawal announced by the United States from the Paris Agreement, all stakeholders of all nations - governments, businesses, and other parties - must share the threats over the sustainability of the Earth and continue to further international cooperation and partnership as well as innovative development of technologies.

Japanese version