Monday, October 20, 2008

Council on the Global Warming Issue

Prime Minister Taro Aso held the 6th meeting of the Council on the Global Warming Issue at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the first Council meeting being held under the Aso Cabinet, the Prime Minister delivered an address, saying, "As for addressing the global warming issue, I am aware that our generation's responsibility is to pass down a sustainable Earth to the next generation. The current situation makes it all the more important that we make full-fledged efforts to tackle environmental issues, thereby addressing a number of issues, including global warming."

At the meeting, discussions took place on two points: the experimental introduction of an integrated domestic market of emission trading, and deliberation on the mid-term goals. On the former point -- an item included in the Action Plan for Achieving a Low-carbon Society, which was decided at the Cabinet meeting on July 29 -- the Council members discussed its outline and schedule, among other matters. On the latter point, discussions took place on matters such as the establishment, within the Council, of a Mid-term target Committee, tasked with holding deliberations on Japan's mid-term goals, in advance of the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is scheduled to be held in the winter of 2009.