Tokyo, Nov 26, 2020, SPA -- U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed hope Wednesday that Japan will take specific steps toward its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while hailing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's recent pledge to make the country carbon neutral by 2050 as a "very important measure." Kyodo reported. Noting that "Japan has been always at the front line" in the fight against climate change, Guterres said in an exclusive online interview with Kyodo News, "I am totally reassured about Japanese performance in relation to climate action." In March, Japan decided to retain its target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 26 percent by fiscal 2030 as compared to the 2013 level, drawing criticism at home and abroad for failing to be ambitious. Signatories of the Paris Agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions are supposed to set their respective goals and update them every five years, preferably with upward revisions. During a policy speech in parliament in October, Suga announced Japan's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Referring to the latest goal, the U.N. chief said, "We have seen (South) Korea following...I believe the new U.S. administration will also follow the Japanese measure." --SPA 22:00 LOCAL TIME 19:00 GMT 0015 www.spa.gov.sa/w1457920