G7 Development Ministers meeting

The Group of Seven Ministers for Sustainable Urban Development have agreed to work together to make cities more carbon neutral. The G7 Ministers issued a statement on Sunday to wrap up their two-day meeting in Takamatsu, western Japan. The document stresses that cities have an important role to play in realizing carbon-neutral societies.

The United Nations estimates that cities are responsible for more than 70 percent of global CO2 emissions. The statement says that greening cities and the surrounding areas can help deal with the causes and impact of climate change. The G7 Ministers say they will work to secure more green spaces as well as creating green roofs and walls on buildings.

The statement also welcomes international cooperation to promote energy-efficient buildings that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero in the entire process from construction to demolition. The Ministers pointed to the importance of government funding, such as subsidies and tax incentives, as well as private investment.