Put on Your Own Mask Before Helping Others - Reaction to PM Kishida's COP26 Speech + Japan's Sustainable Future

AUDIO version of my latest article on MEDIUM

I remember when I first flew with our kids on an airplane and watched the safety announcements with new parent eyes– I was completely shocked by the advice that I should put my own mask on first, before the kids, if there was a loss of oxygen in the cabin. This standard airplane protocol rocked by mama bear sensibility to protect my cubs at all costs, but I soon realized it made sense– a dead parent would be useless to help her kids or others in a crisis.

Read the full article on MEDIUM here

Watching Japan's newly appointed PM Fumio Kishida at the COP26 podium talking of Japan's climate aims to support developing countries in Asia transition to a carbon neutral future made me wonder- shouldn't he put his own mask on first? 

Investment in developing economies at the frontlines of climate change, as a part of the UN international efforts, is great to see. But Japan also needs to focus on the many shortfalls of sustainability here– we need strong, domestic strategies to reach our goals first to be a good leader, right?

In the address during the second day of the leaders' session, the new Japanese leader reaffirmed Tokyo's goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels. Japan will "continue strenuous efforts in its challenge to meet the lofty goal of cutting its emissions by 50 percent," said Kishida, a former foreign minister.

Having come up with the more ambitious emissions cut target in the run-up to COP26, environmental experts have said Japan's standing on climate issues, which has often been poorly rated, has greatly improved. But critics have been disturbed by what they view as Japan's insufficient efforts to phase out coal domestically.

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