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The Prime Minister Delivers a Speech at the Japan National Press Club Monday, June 09, 2008 JAPANESE

(Photograph courtesy of Mr. Itaru Kurita)

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda delivered a speech entitled, "In pursuit of 'Japan as a Low-carbon Society,'" at Nippon Press Center Building, Tokyo. In his speech, the Prime Minister explained the four main pillars of Japan's concrete policies on environment and climate change issues, which are major themes of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit: (i) developing innovative technologies while disseminating existing advanced technologies; (ii) framework-building to move the entire country to lower carbon emissions; (iii) active roles to be played by local regions; and (iv) having each citizen as protagonist in reducing emissions.�@ In his speech, the Prime Minister said, "Global environmental issues cannot be resolved by some spectacular measure. The industrial sector and each member of the public must change their mode of thinking, and it is paramount that we work with countries around the world to move things forward in a steady and sustained manner. This issue can only be resolved by changing all of the following: economies, societies, communities and lifestyles." Related link: In pursuit of "Japan as a Low-carbon Society" Speech by H.E. Mr Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister at the Japan Press Club