- Home
- News Releases
- Back Issues
- April FY2021
- Minister Kajiyama Attends IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit (Video Conference)
Minister Kajiyama Attends IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit (Video Conference)
April 1, 2021
On March 31 (Wed.), the IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit, jointly organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United Kingdom, was held via video conference. Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended the meeting.
At the meeting, participating ministers and other stakeholders from countries around the world discussed concrete measures for the transition to clean energy in order to achieve the climate change targets set by each country. The outcome was the announcement of the IEA-COP26 Seven Key Principles for Implementing Net Zero.
Organized by the IEA and the UK, the COP26 presidency-holder, this summit was held as a forum for discussing how to cooperate toward achieving global net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting efforts by countries and companies toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement with a view toward COP26. The meeting was held via video conference, and Minister Kajiyama attended.
Minister Kajiyama emphasized the importance of energy security in the process of clean energy transitions, and of each country taking a realistic and diverse approach to achieving carbon neutrality, using all the energy sources and technologies available and proceeding in line with their own national circumstances. He also described Japan's efforts to reduce CO2 emissions while utilizing existing power generation infrastructure—namely, its promotion of co-combustion with ammonia and hydrogen, and of mono-fuel combustion technologies of the future.
In addition, the ministers and representatives of private companies in attendance discussed the importance of the perspectives of employment and the development of new industries, promoting actual social applications of innovations and new technologies, measures to promote investment in the clean energy sector, and other issues that need to be addressed to facilitate energy transition.
The IEA-COP26 Seven Key Principles for Implementing Net Zero were presented after the meeting, reflecting the outcome of the discussions.
Outline of the IEA-COP26 Seven Key Principles for Implementing Net Zero
Countries encourage the IEA Secretariat and Members to examine how the IEA, building on its key strengths, can best support the delivery of the following seven principles:
- Promote sustainable recovery toward net zero
- Develop clear, ambitious and implementable roadmaps to 2030 and beyond
- Promote transitions by sharing knowledge between countries
- Accelerate innovation and sector-by-sector decarbonization toward achieving net zero
- Mobilize public and private investment
- Support people-centered transitions
- Ensure energy security of new energy systems
Countries in all stages of development will need to determine their own unique paths toward achieving net zero, using a wide range of technologies and working according to their own national circumstances.
Division in Charge
International Affairs Division, Commissioner's Secretariat, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy