Opening Ceremony of the GEA International Conference 2024

On October 23, Prime Minister Ishiba attended the opening ceremony of the Global Environmental Action (GEA) International Conference 2024 held in Tokyo in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

At the opening ceremony, the GEA Chairman made a speech followed by an address by His Majesty the Emperor. Then, Prime Minister Ishiba delivered an address. 

Prime Minister Ishiba said in his remarks, 

“I would like to offer a few words at the opening of the Global Environmental Action (GEA) International Conference 2024 in the gracious presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

We, humanity, are facing serious environmental crises now. At last year’s G7 Hiroshima Summit chaired by Japan, I shared with the leaders of other countries the recognition that our planet is facing the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Japan will tackle these common global issues in an advanced manner and spearhead such efforts.

First, in the area of climate change, it is necessary to promote a huge transformation of our economies and societies toward the realization of net-zero emissions by 2050. In order to achieve green transformation (GX), Japan intends to draw up a “GX 2040 Vision,” while revising the Strategic Energy Plan and the Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures, thereby presenting Japan’s path toward net-zero emissions.

Internationally speaking, we held the Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting, which I chaired, in Laos on October 11. The countries agreed on a joint statement with an action plan for the next decade, so that we can simultaneously achieve decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security of Asia, while at the same time realizing net-zero emissions through various pathways, taking into account each country’s national circumstances such as industrial structure and energy mix. Japan will continue to join hands with partner countries to push ahead with decarbonization of Asia.

Second, with regard to biodiversity, it has become increasingly important to realize ‘nature-positive’ (nature revitalization), or halting and reversing biodiversity loss, following the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022. Domestically, Japan will leverage the Act on Promoting Activities to Enhance Regional Biodiversity enacted this year and promote the certification of and support for Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites, or conservations areas managed by the private sector and others. This approach will accelerate efforts to meet the ‘30by30 target,’ which aims to conserve at least 30 percent of land.

Third, plastic pollution is a global issue that has raised concerns over its negative impact on ecosystems and so forth and requires global response. Japan will lead discussions on the formulation of a treaty to combat plastic pollution, as we are in the final stage of negotiations. Domestically, Japan will not only address environmental pollution, but also promote transition to a circular economy, which has the potential to serve as a catalyst for new growth and regional revitalization of the country. Specifically, Japan will compile a concrete policy package toward the transition to a circular economy at the ministerial meeting on the circular economy, by promoting a model of local production for local consumption of the Reiwa era through support for cutting-edge regional models and developing a system for recycling solar panels, among other measures.

In March this year, Japan proposed a resolution on the promotion of synergies at the United Nations Environment Assembly, which was subsequently adopted. Going forward, Japan will lead efforts toward integrated solution of the triple global crisis by promoting the implementation of this resolution both at home and abroad, in collaboration with the international community, so that we can confront various intertwined global issues and carve out a future for the planet.

Let me conclude my remarks by wishing health and continued success of all those present here today.”