August 8, 2003
Mr. Shunichi Suzuki, Minister of the Environment, visited Washington, D.C., from August 6 to 9 to attend the Third Japan-U.S. High-Level Consultations on Climate Change held on August 7.
Discussions were held on the recent developments in climate change policies of the two countries as well as on specific measures of Japan-U.S. collaboration in the areas of science and technology, market mechanism, and problems in developing countries. The meeting has culminated in *a joint statement that includes an agreement for joint research activities for 11 projects on the science and technology front. Minister Suzuki urged the U.S. government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and shared the common perception that the broadest possible global participation is vital to address climate change.
Attendees from the Japan side were Mr. Shunichi Suzuki, Minister of the Environment; Mr. Yoshiki Mine, Ambassador in charge of Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Hironori Hamanaka, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment; Mr. Yuzo Ichikawa, Deputy Director-General for Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, Deputy Director-General of the Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment. The delegation for the U.S. consisted of Mr. Jim Connaughton, Chairman, Council of Environmental Quality, President's Office; Ms. Paula Dobriansky, Undersecretary for Global Affairs, Department of State; Mr. Stephen Johnson, Acting Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
Minister Suzuki also engaged in a lively exchange of views with representatives from international organizations and NGOs.
Minister Suzuki met with representatives from the Worldwatch Institute, World Resources Institute, and international organizations such as the World Bank to exchange views on the integration of economic development and environmental protection as well as on the role of citizens' activities in environmental conservation. He also made an on-site visit to a nature conservation site managed by The Nature Conservancy, a nature conservation organization based in the U.S.
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