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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the GEA (Global Environmental Action)  International Conference 2015  in Tokyo in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to offer a few remarks on occasion of the GEA International Conference 2015 which is being held in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

The history of this conference can be traced back a quarter of a century under the leadership of former Prime Minister Takeshita, who called on world leaders to join him in Tokyo in order to make the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit a success.

Last month, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  at the United Nations. Newly included in this agenda are measures addressing climate change, energy and high quality infrastructure. Measures against climate change are absolutely essential to achieving a sustainable world. This awareness was shared by the leaders in attendance.

COP21 will be held at the end of this year in Paris. Climate change, which is progressing on a global scale, must therefore be combated on a global scale. I share this sense of crisis with the leaders of developed countries and island countries. Japan will devote its best efforts to ensure that a new fair and effective international framework is created in Paris in which all countries will participate.

Japan will fully leverage its strength of excellent low-carbon technologies to continually contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases around the world.

In Japan, we have established an ambitious goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions 26% by FY 2030, which compares very favorably to other countries. The foundation for building up to this goal can be found in the energy mix. We will work to realize the three measures of lowering electricity costs, achieving an energy self-sufficiency ratio that exceeds the level prior to the earthquake, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a similar fashion to Europe and the United States.

Innovation is the key to global warming measures. Last week, Japan hosted an international conference called ICEF (Innovation for Cool Earth Forum)  in Tokyo. This framework will utilize networks of leaders from industry, academia and the government from around the world to produce specific progress in innovation.

We will proactively transfer Japan’s excellent low-carbon technologies to developing countries. To achieve this, we will establish a bilateral credit program and implement specific projects. Partners in this initiative include fifteen countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. By combining this with various forms of financial assistance, we will comprehensively support improvements in the ability of developing countries to deal with climate change.

Next year, Japan will serve as chair of the 2016 G7 Summit and invite leaders from around the world to Ise-Shima. The verdant ocean of Shima unfolding in front of the leaders’ eyes connects the Pacific all the way to the Indian Ocean. As chair, Japan will engage frankly with world leaders for world peace and prosperity based on an understanding of the views of many countries from Asia and Africa.

I would also like to use this opportunity to showcase Japan’s traditions, culture, and beautiful nature, including Ise Shrine, to the visiting leaders. I hope to make this an opportunity to share Japan’s ‘furusato,’ or ‘hometown’ heritage with the world.

The earth is the same ‘furusato’ for all the world’s citizens, regardless of where they are from. Our duty is to pass on a beautiful planet to future generations.

In closing, I hope that this conference will serve as an area for fruitful discourse on these matters.”