- Through various channels, including Japan-US high-level consultations on climate change, Japan has been making efforts to call on the U.S. to develop its climate policy promptly and to contribute constructively to the international negotiation on climate change. I appreciate the announcement of the climate change policy of the U.S. Government, after intensive review at the Cabinet level, as a demonstration of the United States' earnest intention to address the issue of global warming.
- Several points included in the United States' policy, such as, for example, the promotion of assistance to developing countries, including through technology transfer, and the encouragement of climate-change related scientific and technological research and development, are among the positions which Japan also holds.
- I strongly hope for the further strengthening of various efforts in the United States, based on the concrete U.S. government policy announced yesterday, and including efforts by private-sector entities, state governments, and other social actors inclined to undertake assertive measures to mitigate climate change.
- In keeping with the Decision handed down by the Ministerial Headquarters on Climate Change Policy on February 13, 2002, the Government of Japan intends to take all necessary steps to ensure the approval of the Kyoto Protocol and the enactment of pertinent legislation by the Diet during the current Diet session.
Furthermore, in order to ensure the effectiveness of actions against global warming, it is important to establish in the future common rules by which all countries, including the United States and developing countries, participate, and I will actively continue our bilateral consultation with the U.S. to exchange information and views on climate change through Japan-US high-level and official-level consultations, through the G8 Environment Ministers' Meeting, and through other channels, with a view to ensuring that effective measures are implemented in both countries.
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