Kerry travels to Japan in bid to cut emissions

John Kerry, President Biden’s special envoy for climate, on Tuesday traveled to Japan to meet with the nation’s top diplomats in an effort to cut emissions.

Japan’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, said the meeting covered the need to get large carbon emitters, such as China, to cooperate with reduced emissions efforts, according to The Associated Press.

“China is the world’s biggest carbon emitter and the number two economy as well, and it is extremely important that we encourage China to firmly fulfill its responsibility to match its place,” Motegi told AP reporters.

Kerry also met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and other officials, who detailed the country’s strict emissions targets. Japan in April set the goal to reduce emissions by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 in response to pressure from the United States, according to Reuters.

“Japan made some tough decisions,” Kerry reportedly told Japan Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi during their meeting.

Suga reportedly said that Japan will aim to get to a reduction of about 50 percent.

“[B]oth sides agreed to continue to work together under the U.S.-Japan Climate Partnership to advance the decarbonization of the world,” the Japanese government said in a statement, the AP reported.

Kerry is set to leave Japan on Tuesday evening for China, where he will engage in more climate talks, the AP noted.