June 28 – Japan has advocated for the removal of a zero-emissions vehicle target from a G7 statement, according to a Reuters article published yesterday.
Response from Greenpeace Japan campaigner Daniel Read:
“It’s extremely disappointing to see that Japan’s government is urging the world to reverse course on zero-emission vehicles, a key tool that we have to fight climate change. Two decades ago, Japan was a leader when it came to hybrid vehicle development and showed the world that a reduction in vehicle emissions was in fact possible. But nearly 25 years after the release of the Toyota Prius, research from both Japan and abroad has found that hybrids are no longer the best technology we have to fight climate change. Zero-emission vehicles are a far more effective tool when it comes to emissions reduction, regardless of a country’s energy mix.
We must invest in zero-emission vehicles to have even a chance at reaching the Paris Agreement goal, as well as ensure there is a just transition for the 5.5 million people who make up Japan’s auto industry. We are experiencing one climate disaster after the next, and we need Japan on board for the climate fight. Just a few days after the highest ever June temperatures were recorded in central Japan, the government’s refusal to set ambitious targets is forcing the world to hit the brakes on climate action.”
Media contacts:
Mitsuhisa Kawase, Senior Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia (Tokyo), +81 (0)70-3195-4165, [email protected]