Japan Highly Appreciates Paris Climate Deal

The Japanese government welcomes the climate change agreement reached in Paris, the country’s environment minister said Sunday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – On Saturday, nearly 200 negotiators agreed to curb emissions beyond 2020 and fuel the transition toward a clean energy world economy after two weeks of tough negotiations marked by disagreement between developed and developing countries.

"For the first time in the history of mankind, all countries could take part in the discussion of the global warming issues in the international format… We highly appreciate the agreement reached," Tamayo Marukawa, who headed Japan’s delegation, was quoted as saying by the Fuji News Network (FNN) television.

The accord that needs to be ratified to enter into force does not imply renunciation of fossil fuels and does not limit global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, all the countries should adopt their own national targets for emission reduction, technological modernization and adaptation to climate change.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced this summer that Tokyo intended by 2030 to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent in comparison to 2013. To achieve this aim, Japan plans to revise the energy balance of the country, so that to receive about 22-24 percent of the energy from the renewable sources, up to 22 percent produced at nuclear power plants, while the remaining share — from petroleum products, gas and coal.