【山添拓】気候変動対策は国家の法的義務　2026.5.28【国会質問】

#Taku Yamazoe's Question and Debate: House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee - Climate Change Measures are a Legal Obligation of States From the "Akahata" Newspaper Article Climate Change Measures are a Human Rights Issue: Mr. Yamazoe Argues On the 28th, at the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Japanese Communist Party member Taku Yamazoe urged the government to address climate change as a human rights issue, following the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution, with Japan's support, welcoming the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) advisory opinion that climate change measures are a national obligation. Mr. Yamazoe pointed out that this was the first time the ICJ had issued a recommendation making climate change measures an obligation under international law. He then cited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' response at the UN General Assembly four years ago, stating that the recommendation's statement that "living in a sustainable environment is a human right" was "not a clear concept," and questioned the current understanding. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that "efforts including major emitting countries are important," and Mr. Ryo Nakamura, Director-General for Policy Counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that "there is a description of the human rights issue, but we supported the resolution as a whole," but neither stated their current understanding. Mr. Yamazoe pointed out that the "Fossil Fuel Decomposition Conference," held in Colombia this April with 58 countries and regions participating, was groundbreaking because it initiated discussions not on the gradual phase-out of fossil fuels, but on how to move away from them. He also urged the Japanese government, which was not invited due to its reluctance to move away from fossil fuels, to attend the second conference next year. Furthermore, when asked about the analysis that the US and Israeli attacks on Iran emitted approximately 5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the first two weeks—equivalent to a year's worth of Iceland's emissions—Foreign Minister Motegi replied that it was "difficult to assess." Mr. Yamazoe emphasized, "It is clear that CO2 emissions increase when war breaks out. Moreover, the military is not subject to emission reduction targets even in peacetime. Military expansion runs counter to climate change countermeasures."