Prime Minister Naoto Kan held the 10th meeting of the Ministerial Committee on the Global Warming Issue at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the three major policies to counter global warming.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "This is an issue to which former Prime Minister Hatoyama attached importance. Immediately after his appointment as Prime Minister, he announced in a speech at the United Nations a 25% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the 1990 level by 2020. Although the announcement was made on the condition of the participation of major emitters, the ambitious direction it set was highly praised and received much attention both inside and outside of Japan.
The course of action decided today, I think, basically builds upon the policy set out by former Prime Minister Hatoyama, by setting a target for 2030 of a 30% reduction from the 1990 level.
The most important point here is that of innovation -- how we should achieve this reduction. By leading the world through innovation, we can save humankind and the Earth. Our activities against climate change will also benefit the Japanese economy -- they will not be a burden to it. I believe that this target is fully attainable and will lead to green innovation, as set out in the New Growth Strategy. I would like to push on in this direction with confidence."