Chairman Kobayashi’s Comments on COP26

November 15, 2021

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) concluded on November 13 with the adoption of the Glasgow Climate Pact. I would like to commend the countries for working together in spite of their differences to reaffirm the common goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels, agree to set international rules on trading greenhouse gas emissions, commit to increase financial aid for developing countries, and phase out coal-fired power generation.

Over the coming years, each country’s ability to implement these measures will be tested. I hope that the international community will continue to work together on substantive climate-change action, and I call on the Japanese government to play a leading role to help our planet realize carbon neutrality.

In Japan, the public and private sectors must be united to ensure that these measures can be taken without compromising energy security and industrial competitiveness. Our country must also continue assisting emerging and developing countries in ways that it is uniquely prepared for, such as promoting more widespread use of efficient, energy-saving power-generation technologies.

For its part, the Shosha industry will make climate change one of its top priorities and address it proactively through its business activities.