From left: Hiroshi Minami, Ambassador for Civil Society, Deputy Director General for Global Issues, Nobutoshi Miyoshi, Deputy Director General for Environmental Affairs, Masahiko Horie, Ambassador for Global Environment; and Koichi Akaishi, Deputy Director General for Environmental Affairs, at a press conference at the QNCC yesterday. Salim Matramkot
By Isabel Ovalle
DOHA: Japan considers the main challenge for COP18 is to prepare a new framework to address climate change that is fair and effective and where all parties will join.
On this basis the Ambassador of Global Environment for Japan, Masahiko Horie, insisted that the country wouldn’t take part in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Horie explained that “if we continue this way only one fourth of the world is legally bound, while the rest is not”.
The representative of the Japanese delegation stated that the Durban platform began working on a new framework and “we are hoping it will be agreed upon before 2015”.
Japan has exceeded the pledged amount for fast-start finance for developing countries - $15bn (from public and private sources)- up to 2012, dedicating up to date $17.4bn. This amount is to assist developing countries, especially those making efforts to reduce emission or being particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Horie stated that Japan’s initiative to address climate change centres on three main issues: technology innovation, and technology transfer and finance, always with especial consideration for developing countries.
On this basis, Japan has implemented 191 feasibility studies in 31 countries since 2010 to facilitate diffusion of low carbon technologies, products and services.
The Japanese ambassador also referred to domestic efforts like those implemented by the local governments (such as the Asian Smart Cities and the Asian Centre for Low Carbon Society) or the global warming tax since 2012 and the introduction of renewable energy.
With these measures Japan’s emissions from 2008 and 2010 were of -10 percent average. While between 2009 and 2012 they were bellow -6 percent.
On this context, Horie said that “we have done a great effort and are very proud that we have fulfilled what we promised”.
The Peninsula
