John Kerry visits Japan to discuss cutting emissions

The former secretary of state has led U.S. efforts to convince the global community of the threat of climate change and urged the acceleration of efforts to curb carbon emissions.

In April 2021, Japan nearly doubled its target for emissions cuts by 2030 to a reduction of 46% in response to pressure from the United States and some of its own firms, after pledging last year to attain carbon neutrality by 2050.

The U.S. push comes in advance of the U.N. COP26 climate conference, which will be held in Scotland later this year.

China, the United States and Japan are the world's biggest, second- and fifth-biggest carbon emitters.