U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon lauded Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura for not wearing a tie as part of energy-saving efforts but demanded bolder action Monday to save the Earth, urging Japan to set a midterm emissions-reduction goal.
Ban, on his first official trip to Japan in his current capacity, also went without a tie during his meeting with Komura, who is participating in the government's Cool Biz drive to dress lighter so air conditioner thermostats can be set higher to reduce energy consumption.
Ban praised various energy-saving efforts Japan has been championing as well as Tokyo's long-term goal of reducing global warming gas by 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050, according to a senior official who briefed reporters.