Japan Brief

G-8 Summit Manages to Work out Agreement to Discuss Cutting Emissions in Half

[International]　June 11 , 2007

This year’s Group of 8 summit meeting that took place in Heiligendamm, Germany, closed on June 8 with a declaration that included, among other things, agreement to give “serious consideration” to a proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. It was the first time that a numerical target for emissions mitigation was suggested in G-8 summit discussions, and the agreement was given high credit as a significant milestone.

The summit attended by leaders of the eight wealthiest democracies of the world also called on North Korea to abandon nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development and deal properly with matters of humanitarian concern including the abduction of Japanese and other citizens, and on Iran to behave more responsibly with its uranium enrichment program. With regard to economic issues, the summit agreed to launch a regular high-level dialogue with emerging economies on major economic issues, and called on the rade ministers of all WTO members to work toward a basis for agreement within a few weeks.

But by far the dominant issue of the Heiligendamm summit was climate change. Hammering out some sort of accord on how to go about an emission cut was regarded as mandatory for the summit’s host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as success of the meeting was at stake on this particular issue. The bottom line was whether the United States, which accounts for 22% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, would be persuaded to join in the global efforts for emissions curtailment with numerical targets.

As it turned out, U.S. President George W. Bush agreed, as included in the declaration to “consider seriously the decisions made by the European Union, Canada and Japan which include at least a halving of global emissions by 2050.” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in this connection jubilantly remarked that “My call for cutting greenhouse emissions in half by 2050 was appreciated.” His position was considered to have played a role to connect the seemingly unbridgeable schism between the United States, which refused any numerical targets, and the Europe Union, which has set a goal to cut emissions by 50% from the 1990 level by 2020.

Though it could be called a success, the agreement reached at the G-8 meeting is rather vague about how to achieve the target and all depends on how major polluter countries will move on future haggling. It is only pointing in a vague direction. It is not clear which year will be the base from which the reduction is counted or whether numerical targets will be imposed country by country.

It is considered that Japan, as the host of next G-8 summit in 2008, will bear a heavy responsibility to flesh out this vague and fragile agreement and move one step further to give it a concrete shape, putting Prime Minister Abe’s resolve, political ability and leadership to the test. The government decided a while ago to hold the summit in 2008 in Toyako town in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan.

Agreement Praised as a Groundbreaking Achievement
The G-8 agreement on greenhouse gas emissions cut was unanimously praised by the Japanese media as an important milestone in the international community’s move on global warming issues. They also were quick to remind Japan of its need to do better than other countries in emissions cutback so as to lead the world. (All editorials quoted below appeared on June 9.)

The Asahi Shimbun, for example, said: “Leaders of major countries agreed on urgently taking concerted action in recognition of the importance of security, which is a different kind of security from that in the past in fields such as economics or conflicts. We highly regard this agreement which will constitute the basis of action on a global scale.” The newspaper noted in particular the major significance of bringing back the United States into discussions on greenhouse gas emission cuts. It also noted as significant “the emphasis on the role of the United Nations.” “The Japanese proposal can be credited as having contributed to making the entire move,” it said.

The Mainichi Shimbun opened its editorial: “Even though a product of compromise, this is a step forward.” It went on to say, “Now that an arrangement that includes the United States has been worked out, a foothold for a post-Kyoto protocol framework has somehow come into sight.” “While tough international negotiations are in prospect, only limited time is left to work out a post-Kyoto agreement. In order to move forward the summit’s agreement at future conferences, Japan also should renew its resolve.”

The Yomiuri Shimbun, in its editorial, “How will the G-8’s new eco-plan unfold?,” asked “Where to begin?” “At the summit in Heiligendamm, the leaders of the major economies did not make clear the year on which the target emission cuts will be based,” it noted, saying, “It was inevitable that the world leaders would not touch on emission reduction targets in a bid to bring China and India and the United States into the fold.” “Certainly global warming will be on the agenda at next year’s G-8 meet at Lake Toya in Toyakocho, Hokkaido. As the host country, we must fulfill our responsibilities.”

The Nikkei noted “the great significance, politically and historically, in having the United States return to post-Kyoto protocol international discussions” and gave high marks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s enthusiasm and ability. The newspaper welcomed the growing trend to seize on the global warming issue as economics not as politics, and as a new opportunity for economic development, not as a burden or load. “Japan must break with the internationally unacceptable argument that the country-wise cap on emissions works against Japan which is advanced in energy-saving and energy efficiency, or the introduction of a cap system should be rejected in whatever form as it leads to stronger state regulations,” the newspaper asserted. “Otherwise, success of the summit at Toyako, Hokkaido, will be imperiled,” it warned.

The Sankei Shimbun argued that “the strategic effort Prime Minister Abe displayed toward the agreement at the summit should be duly rated. In few cases in the past has Japan taken initiatives and achieved success as it has this time on a world-scale issue,” it said.