November 9, 2022

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The 27th UN Climate Change Conference of the State Parties (COP 27), scheduled to continue until November 18, began on November 6 in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. Natural disasters caused by abnormal weather are a serious and global-level concern for human beings. No time should be lost in increasing targets toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in curbing global temperature rises.

In August, heavy rains hit Pakistan. One third of the country was submerged and more than 1,000 people died. It is said that even a 1.5C rise may double the number of people ravaged by floods. So, impacts of a 2C increase will be disastrous.

The COP 26 agreed to urge all State Parties to increase their GHG reduction targets in order to limit global warming to 1.5C within this century. However, as of September 30, only 24 nations which include India, Australia, and Brazil have submitted their new GHG reduction targets. The Japanese government has no intention of increasing its target. The world's 1.5C goal will not be achieved without an immediate increase in large industrial countries' and larger emitters' targets.

Compensation or reparation for "losses and damages" developing nations have incurred will be up for discussion for the first time in the climate talks. However, the United States and other advanced capitalist states being asked to pay compensation are reluctant to address this issue. As major industrial countries have emitted a large amount of GHG since the Industrial Revolution, they should sincerely respond to the demand of developing nations.

Japan's target: "a 46% cut by 2030 compared to the 2013 level" will be equal to only a 42% cut if compared to the 2010 level, which is lower than the world average of 45%.

The Japanese Communist Party proposes setting a target of 50-60% CO2 reduction by fiscal 2030 from the fiscal 2010 level. Efforts to reduce energy consumption by 40% and increase power generation using renewables to 50% of the total power output will make the 50-60% cut possible. The international community is asking Japan to bear responsibility for passing on a safer global environment to future generations.

Past related article:
> JCP calls public attention to its strategy for 50-60% CO2 cut by 2030 [September 23 & 24, 2021]