Japan mulls higher climate change goals

In an effort to introduce a long-term strategy against climate change before the Group of 20 summit in Osaka in June, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on the government to set a more ambitious goal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

"We hope to accelerate the virtuous cycle of taking environmental measures and promoting growth, and trigger a paradigm shift in the world," Abe said at a panel attended by politicians, professors and corporate executives on Tuesday.

During the panel, experts said Japan needs to make a shift in its efforts toward fighting global warming and should aim to achieve the "ultimate goal of a carbon-free society at the earliest possible time during the second half of this century".