The following is an article by Dr. Taishi Sugiyama, Senior Director of the Canon Institute for Global Studies, which appeared in the Sankei Shimbun's Sound Arguments on November 26 under the title "National Interests Lost at U.N. Climate Conference.
It is a must-read for the Japanese people and people around the world.
The theory that "if developed countries take the lead in decarbonization and put pressure on China, China will do the same" is still just a fairy tale.
At COP26 (the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), China did not give an inch, and only the self-destruction of the developed countries was confirmed.
It ended in a complete victory for China.
At the climate summit hosted by the U.S. this spring, the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations) countries across the board declared that they would "halve C0₂ and other greenhouse gases by 2030 and achieve zero emissions (decarbonization) by 2050.
At the end of last year, Japan also declared that it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 years.
Japan also declared a 46% reduction by 30 years, following its declaration of zero emissions by 50 years at the end of last year.
On the other hand, China did not change its plan to continue to increase CO2 and other emissions by 30 years.
The Chinese government has not changed its plan to continue increasing CO2.
It could not break this composition even at this COP26.
Not only that but the targets declared by each country have been upgraded and confirmed in the international treaty called the Paris Agreement.
The 30-year target is so reckless that the developed countries cannot meet it anyway.
China will be highly critical of it and will gain a diplomatic advantage.
In addition, developed countries will significantly increase their use of solar power and electric vehicles, but they will import more from China, benefit China.
The developed economies will bear a heavy burden.
China will not stop laughing at the self-destruction of its enemies.
The major media are writing about the Glasgow Climate Accord at COP26 as if it is the result of raising the temperature rise target to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
However, the phrase "pursue efforts" to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius was initially in the Paris Agreement.
China has made no concessions.
The decarbonization period was "by or around," but the word "at that time" was to keep China's target year of 2060 unchanged.
US Biden traitorous negotiations
A phased "reduction" of coal-fired power generation was also agreed upon, but this does not force any change in China's plan for the next 30 years.
In fact, the word "reduction" was first used in the U.S.-China Glasgow Joint Declaration, which was released during COP26.
China's current 14th Five-Year Plan calls for a 10% increase in C0₂ emissions by 2025.
This increase alone is equivalent to Japan's annual emissions.
However, in the 15th Five-Year Plan, the share of coal-fired power generation is expected to decrease.
It is because the number of non-coal-fired power plants will increase.
In other words, the "reduction" agreement is merely an endorsement of China's thinking.
In exchange, the U.S., in the Joint Declaration, makes the outrageous promise of "100% zero-emissions electricity by 2035.
There is no way the U.S. can decarbonize electricity by 2035.
China will use this phrase to accuse the U.S. and gain a diplomatic advantage in the future.
If the U.S. really tries to achieve this goal, it will be its own destruction.
The U.S.-China agreement is short and easy to read, but it says that the U.S. will cooperate with China on everything.
China has not promised anything other than a "reduction" of coal.
So what was the point of this agreement?
Both wanted to send a message that "cooperation is important" regarding climate change.
The Biden administration's conciliatory stance toward China is clearly visible.
It wants to use climate change as an excuse to maintain economic relations.
However, it is highly doubtful that this will contribute to the genuine national interest of the United States.
On the other hand, this is an excellent opportunity for China to break the siege on China.
So the interests of the two administrations are aligned.
Nevertheless, the Democratic Party of the United States (DPJ) administration's traitorous negotiating style is still the same as ever, as it makes promises to China that it cannot keep.
A Time Bomb Set for Itself
Under the Glasgow Agreement, the progress of C02 reduction toward 2030 will be followed up every year by the proposal of developed countries obsessed with decarbonization.
However, the goals of the developed countries are all overblown, and there is no chance of achieving Japan's 46% reduction (compared to 2013), the U.K.'s 68% reduction (compared to 1990), or the U.S. E's 50% reduction (compared to 2005).
If we really try, our economy will collapse and lose our energy security.
In addition, developed countries have pledged enormous aid of over 10 trillion yen per year.
Even though the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report has not observed any intensification of disasters caused by C02, it is an act of sheer madness.
The world is in the midst of an energy crisis, and the developed countries have been neglecting stable and inexpensive energy supply in their efforts to decarbonize.
Japan is one of them, and other countries are scrambling to cope with the economic burden by providing temporary subsidies.
Inflation is also a growing concern.
Under these circumstances, no country can afford to have its parliament pass a carbon tax or regulation that entails a massive decarbonization burden.
Thus, next year at COP27, the disagreements will become apparent, and the developed countries will find themselves in an increasingly moral quagmire.
And they will be forced to make even more absurd C0₂ reductions and provide enormous aid.
How long will Japan have to play this foolish game?
