Towards Further Efforts on Climate Change

Towards Further Efforts on Climate Change

Eight months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Although Japan is making its utmost efforts towards reconstruction, Japan’s commitment to actively tackle global warming is unswerving even after the disaster. Japan is now formulating the new energy strategies and plans while considering the measures to tackle global warming. This summer, we achieved more than 15 % energy saving in Tokyo and Tohoku areas compared with last year.

In order to take on climate change issue with the whole international community, our ultimate goal is the expeditious adoption of a new, single and comprehensive legal document which will establish a fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate. In addition to that, it is necessary for the effective efforts to address global warming to fully mobilize technology, market and finance. Japan believes that the following three points are important and Japan will contribute to realizing them under the close cooperation with other countries. (see the attached paper)

The first point is the technology innovation for further emission reduction from a long-term view. Developed countries should cooperate with each other towards the innovative development of low carbon technology.

The second point is transfer and improvement of low carbon technologies and the establishment of a new market mechanism to enable them. It is important that developed and developing countries cooperate toward the establishment of a new market mechanism which can deal with the needs of each country. Japan will actively promote sharing our technologies and experiences in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy with developing countries through a new market mechanism, including Bilateral Offset Credit Mechanism.

The third point is the seamless support to developing countries, in particular, to vulnerable countries. We need to steadily implement support through the Fast-start Finance pledged up to 2012. Japan has already implemented more than 11.3 billion dollars from public and private finances out of the 15 billion dollars pledge up to 2012. The assistance by the international community should be provided seamlessly beyond 2012, including early establishment of “Green Climate Fund” which is being discussed.

Climate change is a vital and urgent issue for many countries in the world. As COP17 from November 28^th to December 9^th is coming ahead, the world has to confront this necessity and take concrete measures against it. Japan is determined to make further efforts in cooperation with other countries.

►Japan’s Initiative (draft) : Technology, Market Mechanism and Assistance for Developing Countries (PDF)