Climate change: China, Japan and South Korea must work together to end coal use and funding

All three can boost their economies, and those throughout Asia and beyond, by accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels

We have a chance in the economic recovery from Covid-19 to create a healthy, resilient and net zero-emissions future for the world

3-MIN READ3-MIN

A woman walks along a bridge during the morning rush hour in the central business district in Beijing on March 15. Photo: AP

Ban Ki-Moon

Ban Ki-moon, a former UN secretary general and former South Korean foreign minister, is now deputy chair of The Elders.

Published: 9:15am, 14 Apr 2021Updated: 9:15am, 14 Apr 2021

Humanity’s experience of the Covid-19 pandemic during the past year has prompted an elemental reappraisal of our common priorities. The very air we breathe has taken on greater personal significance and symbolism.

The face masks we have come to wear to protect against transmission of the virus are a tangible sign of adaptation and sacrifice for the common good. We recognise that, to breathe freely again, we need to work together in a sustained manner with maximum resources, placing our common interest above narrow national priorities.

Now we need to show a similar resolve and take bold, urgent action to secure healthy air for all citizens and future generations by cutting emissions and ending the use and financing of fossil fuels across East Asia, particularly coal. Every major economy in East Asia has already decided to decarbonise by the middle of the century, which is an important first step.

Only through pursuing net zero emissions will we create the good jobs – 63 per cent of the world’s renewable energy jobs are in Asia – economic stability and cleaner air we urgently need to improve human, economic and planetary health. This is how we will thrive and bolster resilience to future shocks – pandemics, typhoons, wildfires, extreme heat and other effects of climate change.