Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0956
September 28, 2009


Prime Minister Hatoyama Declares 25% Emissions Cuts at UN

In a speech delivered at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 22, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced that Japan’s midterm goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from the 1990 level by 2020. In his speech, Prime Minister Hatoyama urged the major emitting countries, the United States and China and others, to set ambitious reduction targets themselves, saying that this “commitment of Japan to the world is premised on agreement on ambitious targets by all the major economies.” He also promised that “Japan is prepared to provide more financial and technical assistance than in the past” to support developing countries in their efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Appraisal of Japan’s New International Pledge

After the Democratic Party of Japan’s resounding victory in a general election for the House of Representatives on August 30, Hatoyama, as DPJ president, gave a speech in Tokyo on September 7 in which he made it clear that the next administration would aim to cut emissions by 25% from the 1990 level. The UN speech followed on from that pledge. This time, however, since it was made at an international meeting with the participation of representatives from about 140 countries, including US President Barack Obama and around 100 other heads of government, the prime minister’s statement attracted much attention as Japan’s new international pledge.

On September 23 Japan’s “big three” newspapers (the Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and Mainichi Shimbun) all reported Prime Minister Hatoyama’s speech in top front-page articles boldly headlined “International pledge of 25% cut” (Yomiuri), “25% cut announced at UN” (Asahi), and “International promise of 25% reduction” (Mainichi). According to reports in these major newspapers, in addition to declaring Japan’s aim to reduce emissions by 25% from the 1990 level by 2020 and stressing that the “commitment of Japan to the world is premised on agreement on ambitious targets by all the major economies,” Prime Minister Hatoyama also proposed specific measures to assist developing countries in this field, including (1) the contribution of considerable public- and private-sector funds by the major developed countries and (2) the establishment of a mechanism to check how effective assistance has been in cutting emissions in cases where developing countries have received financial assistance. He called this the “Hatoyama Initiative” (Yomiuri, September 23).

In talks with Prime Minister Hatoyama on September 22, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised Japan’s midterm target, saying that it was being very well received by member states. In addition, West European leaders, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and others also praised Japan’s pioneering initiative in setting a midterm goal. On the other hand, anticipating that a new debate will flare up within Japan on such issues as the increased burden that the 25% emissions cut target will place on the people’s lives and where the funds to assist developing countries will come from, on September 23 the Asahi carried a commentary article saying that “it will be essential to convince business circles and the public.”

Newspaper Editorials

Japan’s five major newspapers all carried editorials on Prime Minister Hatoyama’s “25% reduction” speech on September 24. Each newspaper voiced its own original views, thereby revealing a considerable divergence of opinions on the issue.

The Yomiuri editorial remarked, “It is questionable whether it was necessary for him [Prime Minister Hatoyama] to go out on a limb and unilaterally make such an important international pledge so soon after the launch of his government and before domestic consensus has been reached on the target. Most worrying of all is that this numerical target might take on a life of its own . . . .” It went on, “Hatoyama listed such measures as the introduction of a domestic emissions trading system and a global warming tax as policy tools to achieve the target. However, these measures could knock the wind out of the sails of the economic recovery. How can the nation achieve the emissions reduction target without hamstringing the economy? The prime minister must present a road map for achieving the emissions target as soon as possible.”

The Asahi editorial commented, “China, which holds the key to the progress of climate change talks, made a significant move. President Hu Jintao told the opening session that China would ‘endeavor to cut carbon dioxide emissions . . . by a notable margin by 2020 from the 2005 level.’” Urging China, a large emitter of greenhouse gases, to change its existing stance on the matter, it continued, “We hope China will . . . lead . . . other newly emerging nations toward the creation of a post–Kyoto Protocol framework.” Regarding the US response, the Asahi warned, “There are concerns in the US Congress that the climate change bill could negatively affect the US economy and hurt the international competitiveness of US industry. If this perception persists, it could diminish Obama’s leadership in getting the world to forge a new agreement on climate change in December, even though Obama is firmly committed to the cause.”

Stating that “Until now, under the administrations of the Liberal Democratic Party, measures to counter global warming have been extremely inward-looking, placing the emphasis on coordinating domestic opinions,” the Mainichi editorial commented, “In comparison, Prime Minister Hatoyama’s statement of intent can be said to have demonstrated Japan’s presence internationally.” On the other hand, it went on, “Since Japan’s target ‘is premised on agreement on ambitious targets by all the major economies,’ it will be influenced by how other countries respond.” Regarding the fact that the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, which is expected to be the climax of negotiations, is looming at the end of the year, the Mainichi concluded by saying, “We hope that the respective heads of government will display political leadership so that their words at the summit lead to specific action.”

The Nikkei editorial noted, “The pledge at the United Nations has left Prime Minister Hatoyama with the task of forming a domestic consensus. There is criticism that the new midterm goal is ‘too high.’ As reasons for saying so, estimates by past governments of the burden on households, such as ‘around 360,000 yen a year,’ will be cited.” The Nikkei stressed, “But it has also been pointed out that these estimates do not take account of the creation of new industries through technological innovation; they are the result of calculating the cost of countermeasures on the premise of the existing industrial structure. If the government declares a clear target, companies can confidently promote investment in technological development and equipment in related fields. In order for the international pledge to win firm domestic support, it is necessary to form a common recognition that the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will create new markets and support economic growth is necessary.”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial commented, “It is regrettable that Prime Minister Hatoyama promised, as an international pledge, a figure that will be extremely difficult to achieve.” It argued, “Even if Japan sets a high hurdle, it is essential for the United States and China, which each account for about 20% of the world’s emissions, to actively participate in a new post-Kyoto framework of international rules.” The Sankei warned, “There must not be a repetition of the Kyoto Protocol, which placed a heavy obligation to reduce emissions on Japan alone.”

(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center, Japan)

*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.


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