China and Japan tout climate goals Greta Thunberg calls 'vague'

Environment emerges as key Davos topic as activists keep pressure on

Factories in China: The Xi Jinping government is promoting its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, whereas activists are calling for more immediate and binding carbon budgets. © Reuters

KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

January 28, 2021 14:02 JST

SINGAPORE -- Environmental activists are not terribly impressed by Asian governments' lofty but decadeslong climate goals and want concrete action, this week's online World Economic Forum meetings made clear.

In recent months, countries and companies across the region have been setting goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. China aims to achieve carbon neutrality, or net-zero emissions, by 2060. Japan and South Korea have resolved to get there by 2050.