- At today's Cabinet meeting, the Government of Japan decided to accept the
"Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change".
Japan will deposit the instrument of acceptance with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations on June 4 (local time), thereby becoming a Party to the Kyoto
Protocol.
- As the chair of the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Kyoto in
1997, Japan has been seeking the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol by 2002
through participating actively in the related international negotiations making
efforts to formulate an agreement for the prevention of global warming. The
Kyoto Protocol is an extremely significant first step in strengthening
international actions against climate change. I strongly hope that other
countries will also expeditiously become Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and
thereby promptly bringing it into force.
- It will by no means be easy for Japan to achieve the commitment to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions as stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol, and it is
necessary for the central and local governments, businesses as well as the
people to join forces with all their might to achieve the commitment. Having
adopted the Guideline for Measures to Prevent Global Warming on March 19, the
Government of Japan intends to prepare and establish mechanisms that enhance
compatibility between the environment and the economy as well as foster
technological innovation and creative initiatives in the business circles so
that efforts to meet the commitment under the Kyoto Protocol will lead to
economic revitalization and employment creation. I would like to call upon the
people of Japan for their understanding as well as their concrete actions.
- To ensure the effectiveness of actions against global warming, it is vital
that all countries strive for the reduction of greenhouse gases. The Government
of Japan will do its utmost to establish a common rule, in which all countries
including the United States and the developing countries participate. In order
to prevent global warming, I strongly hope that other countries will participate
constructively in the negotiations along with Japan.
(Foreign Press Center Translation)
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