Japan has bowed to US pressure by watering down commitments to tackle climate change in its draft G20 communiqué, a sign of how Tokyo is seeking to win favour with Washington amid tense trade talks and concerns over North Korea.
The draft document omits the phrases “global warming” and “decarbonisation” and downplays the Paris climate accord compared with previous G20 communiqués. Analysts said the omissions were an attempt to placate the US, which has made clear its intention to withdraw from the 2015 climate pact.
The US and Japan are locked in difficult negotiations over a potential trade deal, in which agriculture and car parts have been sticking points. Tokyo also wants Washington to raise the economic pressure on North Korea and force Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.