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2007 December 12 - 18 [ENVIRONMENT]

Japan’s responsibility to prevent global warming

The 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Climate Change (COP 13) ended on December 15 in Bali, Indonesia. One of the main issues that divided the world was whether to insert into the document’s preamble a suggested negotiating goal for the next two years: emission cuts of 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Japan sided with the United States in blocking this effort to conclude the agreement replacing the Kyoto Protocol that will expire in 2013.

Japan sides with the U.S.

The first draft of the document called for all the developed countries to increase the effort to mitigate climate change, including examination of quantified emissions limitations. The United States, which broke away from the Kyoto Protocol, proposed allowing each nation to voluntarily cut greenhouse gas emissions instead of placing restrictions or setting numerical targets.

Japan has not set its own numerical target but is calling for gas emissions to be halved worldwide by 2050. The Environment Minister Kamoshita Ichiro has said that it would be natural that emissions should be cut by 25-40 percent by 2020. However, Japan, along with Canada claimed that it cannot achieve a 6 percent cut required by the Kyoto protocol, joined with the United States in opposing any imposition of numerical targets.

Whether legally binding or leaving alone

Emissions cuts will not be effective as long as the effort is based on “voluntary goals.” This is clear from the fact that greenhouse gas emissions in Japan, the U.S. and Canada, which are advocates of “voluntary efforts,” are increasing. This is in contrast with EU nations that are calling for numerical goals to be imposed and are successfully cutting emissions.

The Japanese government has not given up its policy of leaving the prevention of global warming to “voluntary plans” of the industrial sector, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.. Its inter-agency panel’s draft report released on December 14 did not propose introducing emissions trading or an environment tax.

Global warming will be high on the agenda at the G-8 Summit scheduled for July 2008 in Toyako, Hokkaido. If Japan clings to defending the U.S. position there, it will come under severe criticism for its irresponsibility.