Japan to go carbon-free by 2050: PM Suga

In his first policy sppech, prime minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday declared that Japan will achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. In his policy speech Suga outlines  an ambitious agenda as the country struggles to balance economic and pandemic concerns. Suga portrayed the need to shift away from fossil fuels to counter climate change as an opportunity rather than a burden.Global warming measures are no longer obstacles for economic growth, but would lead to industrial and socio-economic reforms and a major growth," he said and added that we need to change our mindset.

Suga said he will speed up research and development on key technologies such as next generation solar batteries and carbon recycling. He also promised to fundamentally change Japan's long-term reliance on coal-fired energy" by promoting conservation and maximising renewables, while maintaining nuclear energy. In the immediate term, measures to curb the pandemic while reviving the economy are the top priority, Suga said.

Turning to Japan's biggest long-term problem, a low birthrate and shrinking population, Suga reiterated a pledge to provide insurance coverage for infertility treatments. He also vowed to promote paternity leaves for working fathers to ease the burden of child-rearing and home-making on working mothers.He also promised more for single-parent households, more than half of which are living in poverty.